Rural population share — all countries

Rural population share — Middle East & North Africa

Rural population share in Middle East & North Africa in 2025 — 44%. Since 1960, the indicator has fallen by 26.3 pp.

2025 44% −0.3 pp vs 2024
World rank
Period maximum 70.3%1960
Period minimum 44%2025

Trend over time

1960–2025 · % of population

Rural population share — Middle East & North Africa, 1960–2025405060708019601967197419811988199520022009201620231960: 70.3%1962: 69%1964: 67.8%1966: 66.7%1968: 65.5%1970: 64.4%1972: 63.2%1974: 62%1976: 61%1978: 59.9%1980: 58.7%1982: 57.4%1984: 56.4%1986: 55.5%1988: 54.7%1990: 54%1992: 53.4%1994: 53%1996: 52.5%1998: 51.9%2000: 51.3%2002: 50.7%2004: 50.2%2006: 49.6%2008: 49%2010: 48.5%2012: 47.7%2014: 46.7%2016: 46.1%2018: 45.8%2020: 45.3%2022: 44.9%2024: 44.3%2025: 44%
Change over the period: −26.3 pp Annual average: -0.4 pp

Comparison, 2025

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Middle East & North Africa

Middle East & North Africa 44%
World 42.2%
Rural population share — Middle East & North Africa, by year Middle East & North Africa All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 44 −0.3 pp
2024 44.3 −0.3 pp
2023 44.6 −0.3 pp
2022 44.9 −0.3 pp
2021 45.2 −0.1 pp
2020 45.3 −0.2 pp
2019 45.6 −0.2 pp
2018 45.8 −0.2 pp
2017 45.9 −0.2 pp
2016 46.1 −0.3 pp
2015 46.4 −0.3 pp
2014 46.7 −0.4 pp
2013 47.1 −0.6 pp
2012 47.7 −0.5 pp
2011 48.2 −0.3 pp
2010 48.5 −0.2 pp
2009 48.7 −0.3 pp
2008 49 −0.3 pp
2007 49.3 −0.3 pp
2006 49.6 −0.3 pp
2005 49.9 −0.3 pp
2004 50.2 −0.3 pp
2003 50.5 −0.2 pp
2002 50.7 −0.3 pp
2001 51 −0.3 pp
2000 51.3 −0.3 pp
1999 51.6 −0.3 pp
1998 51.9 −0.3 pp
1997 52.2 −0.3 pp
1996 52.5 −0.2 pp
1995 52.7 −0.3 pp
1994 53 −0.2 pp
1993 53.2 −0.2 pp
1992 53.4 −0.3 pp
1991 53.8 −0.3 pp
1990 54 −0.3 pp
1989 54.3 −0.3 pp
1988 54.7 −0.4 pp
1987 55.1 −0.4 pp
1986 55.5 −0.5 pp
1985 56 −0.5 pp
1984 56.4 −0.5 pp
1983 56.9 −0.5 pp
1982 57.4 −0.6 pp
1981 58.1 −0.7 pp
1980 58.7 −0.6 pp
1979 59.3 −0.6 pp
1978 59.9 −0.5 pp
1977 60.4 −0.6 pp
1976 61 −0.5 pp
1975 61.5 −0.6 pp
1974 62 −0.6 pp
1973 62.6 −0.6 pp
1972 63.2 −0.6 pp
1971 63.8 −0.6 pp
1970 64.4 −0.6 pp
1969 65 −0.6 pp
1968 65.5 −0.6 pp
1967 66.1 −0.6 pp
1966 66.7 −0.5 pp
1965 67.2 −0.6 pp
1964 67.8 −0.6 pp
1963 68.4 −0.6 pp
1962 69 −0.7 pp
1961 69.7 −0.6 pp
1960 70.3

About the indicator

The share of population living outside urban settlements, as a percent of the total. It is computed as the difference between total and urban population, and therefore inherits every particularity of national definitions of urban areas.

Source: World Population Prospects (UN), license CC BY 3.0 IGO.