Rural population share — all countries

Rural population share — Southern Africa

Rural population share in Southern Africa in 2025 — 37.8%. Since 1960, the indicator has fallen by 19.9 pp.

2025 37.8% −0.2 pp vs 2024
World rank
Period maximum 57.7%1960
Period minimum 37.8%2025

Trend over time

1960–2025 · % of population

Rural population share — Southern Africa, 1960–202535404550556019601967197419811988199520022009201620231960: 57.7%1962: 57.4%1964: 57%1966: 56.7%1968: 56.4%1970: 56.1%1972: 55.8%1974: 55.7%1976: 55.6%1978: 55.5%1980: 55.3%1982: 55%1984: 54.4%1986: 53.7%1988: 52.4%1990: 51.1%1992: 50.3%1994: 49.8%1996: 49.3%1998: 48.2%2000: 46.7%2002: 45.3%2004: 43.8%2006: 42.3%2008: 41%2010: 40%2012: 39.5%2014: 39.2%2016: 38.9%2018: 38.7%2020: 38.5%2022: 38.3%2024: 38%2025: 37.8%
Change over the period: −19.9 pp Annual average: -0.31 pp

Comparison, 2025

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Southern Africa

Southern Africa 37.8%
World 42.2%
Rural population share — Southern Africa, by year Southern Africa All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 37.8 −0.2 pp
2024 38 −0.2 pp
2023 38.2 −0.2 pp
2022 38.3 −0.1 pp
2021 38.4 −0.1 pp
2020 38.5 −0.1 pp
2019 38.6 −0.1 pp
2018 38.7 −0.1 pp
2017 38.8 −0.1 pp
2016 38.9 −0.1 pp
2015 39 −0.2 pp
2014 39.2 −0.2 pp
2013 39.4 −0.2 pp
2012 39.5 −0.2 pp
2011 39.7 −0.3 pp
2010 40 −0.4 pp
2009 40.4 −0.5 pp
2008 41 −0.6 pp
2007 41.6 −0.7 pp
2006 42.3 −0.7 pp
2005 43 −0.8 pp
2004 43.8 −0.8 pp
2003 44.6 −0.7 pp
2002 45.3 −0.7 pp
2001 46 −0.7 pp
2000 46.7 −0.8 pp
1999 47.5 −0.8 pp
1998 48.2 −0.6 pp
1997 48.9 −0.4 pp
1996 49.3 −0.3 pp
1995 49.6 −0.2 pp
1994 49.8 −0.2 pp
1993 50.1 −0.3 pp
1992 50.3 −0.3 pp
1991 50.6 −0.5 pp
1990 51.1 −0.6 pp
1989 51.7 −0.7 pp
1988 52.4 −0.7 pp
1987 53.1 −0.6 pp
1986 53.7 −0.4 pp
1985 54.1 −0.3 pp
1984 54.4 −0.3 pp
1983 54.7 −0.2 pp
1982 55 −0.2 pp
1981 55.1 −0.2 pp
1980 55.3 −0.1 pp
1979 55.4 −0.1 pp
1978 55.5 −0.1 pp
1977 55.6 −0.1 pp
1976 55.6 −0 pp
1975 55.7 −0.1 pp
1974 55.7 −0.1 pp
1973 55.8 −0.1 pp
1972 55.8 −0.1 pp
1971 55.9 −0.1 pp
1970 56.1 −0.2 pp
1969 56.2 −0.2 pp
1968 56.4 −0.2 pp
1967 56.5 −0.2 pp
1966 56.7 −0.2 pp
1965 56.9 −0.2 pp
1964 57 −0.2 pp
1963 57.2 −0.2 pp
1962 57.4 −0.2 pp
1961 57.5 −0.2 pp
1960 57.7

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.