Rural population share — all countries

Rural population share — Saudi Arabia

Rural population share in Saudi Arabia in 2025 — 15.4%. Ranked 171 in the world out of 217. Since 1960, the indicator has fallen by 53.2 pp.

2025 15.4% −0.2 pp vs 2024
World rank 171of 217
Period maximum 68.6%1960
Period minimum 15.4%2025

Trend over time

1960–2025 · % of population

Rural population share — Saudi Arabia, 1960–202502040608019601967197419811988199520022009201620231960: 68.6%1962: 65.9%1964: 62.8%1966: 59.1%1968: 55%1970: 50.8%1972: 46.8%1974: 43.2%1976: 39.9%1978: 36.7%1980: 33.6%1982: 30.7%1984: 28.2%1986: 26.1%1988: 24.4%1990: 23%1992: 22%1994: 21.4%1996: 20.8%1998: 20.4%2000: 20%2002: 19.7%2004: 19.2%2006: 18.8%2008: 18.4%2010: 17.9%2012: 17.6%2014: 17.2%2016: 16.9%2018: 16.5%2020: 16.2%2022: 15.9%2024: 15.5%2025: 15.4%
Change over the period: −53.2 pp Annual average: -0.82 pp

Comparison, 2025

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia 15.4%
World 42.2%
Western Asia computed 23.8%
High-income countries computed 19.7%
Rural population share — Saudi Arabia, by year Saudi Arabia All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 15.4 −0.2 pp
2024 15.5 −0.2 pp
2023 15.7 −0.2 pp
2022 15.9 −0.2 pp
2021 16 −0.2 pp
2020 16.2 −0.2 pp
2019 16.4 −0.2 pp
2018 16.5 −0.2 pp
2017 16.7 −0.2 pp
2016 16.9 −0.2 pp
2015 17 −0.2 pp
2014 17.2 −0.2 pp
2013 17.4 −0.2 pp
2012 17.6 −0.2 pp
2011 17.7 −0.2 pp
2010 17.9 −0.2 pp
2009 18.1 −0.2 pp
2008 18.4 −0.2 pp
2007 18.6 −0.2 pp
2006 18.8 −0.2 pp
2005 19 −0.2 pp
2004 19.2 −0.2 pp
2003 19.5 −0.2 pp
2002 19.7 −0.2 pp
2001 19.8 −0.2 pp
2000 20 −0.2 pp
1999 20.2 −0.2 pp
1998 20.4 −0.2 pp
1997 20.6 −0.2 pp
1996 20.8 −0.2 pp
1995 21.1 −0.3 pp
1994 21.4 −0.3 pp
1993 21.7 −0.3 pp
1992 22 −0.4 pp
1991 22.4 −0.6 pp
1990 23 −0.7 pp
1989 23.7 −0.8 pp
1988 24.4 −0.8 pp
1987 25.2 −0.9 pp
1986 26.1 −1 pp
1985 27.1 −1.1 pp
1984 28.2 −1.2 pp
1983 29.4 −1.3 pp
1982 30.7 −1.4 pp
1981 32.1 −1.5 pp
1980 33.6 −1.5 pp
1979 35.1 −1.6 pp
1978 36.7 −1.6 pp
1977 38.3 −1.6 pp
1976 39.9 −1.6 pp
1975 41.6 −1.6 pp
1974 43.2 −1.7 pp
1973 44.9 −1.9 pp
1972 46.8 −2 pp
1971 48.8 −2 pp
1970 50.8 −2.1 pp
1969 52.9 −2.1 pp
1968 55 −2.1 pp
1967 57.1 −2 pp
1966 59.1 −1.9 pp
1965 61 −1.8 pp
1964 62.8 −1.6 pp
1963 64.4 −1.5 pp
1962 65.9 −1.3 pp
1961 67.2 −1.3 pp
1960 68.6

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.