Rural population, annual growth rate in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Rural population, annual growth rate was 3.68 % change on previous year in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
3.68 % change on previous year
Change on year
up 0.1%
World rank
4th
of 208 countries
All-time high
4.5 % change on previous year
in 2013
All-time low
-3.51 % change on previous year
in 2018
Years of data
65
1961–2025
Rural population, annual growth rate in Saudi Arabia, 1961–2025
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in % change on previous year.
Analysis
Saudi Arabia recorded 3.68 % change on previous year for rural population, annual growth rate in 2025.
The figure is up 0.1% on the previous year and down 13.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, rural population, annual growth rate in Saudi Arabia peaked at 4.5 % change on previous year in 2013 and was at its lowest, -3.51 % change on previous year, in 2018.
Saudi Arabia ranks 4th of 208 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Rural population, annual growth rate in Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | % change on previous year | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 1.75 % change on previous year | — |
| 1962 | 1.67 % change on previous year | -4.8% |
| 1963 | 1.45 % change on previous year | -13.0% |
| 1964 | 1.12 % change on previous year | -22.8% |
| 1965 | 0.8093 % change on previous year | -27.7% |
| 1966 | 0.5268 % change on previous year | -34.9% |
| 1967 | 0.3297 % change on previous year | -37.4% |
| 1968 | 0.2126 % change on previous year | -35.5% |
| 1969 | 0.1407 % change on previous year | -33.8% |
| 1970 | 0.1532 % change on previous year | +8.9% |
| 1971 | 0.3363 % change on previous year | +119.5% |
| 1972 | 0.6435 % change on previous year | +91.3% |
| 1973 | 0.9434 % change on previous year | +46.6% |
| 1974 | 1.25 % change on previous year | +32.5% |
| 1975 | 1.39 % change on previous year | +11.1% |
| 1976 | 1.37 % change on previous year | -1.7% |
| 1977 | 1.39 % change on previous year | +2.1% |
| 1978 | 1.41 % change on previous year | +0.9% |
| 1979 | 1.4 % change on previous year | -0.7% |
| 1980 | 1.38 % change on previous year | -0.9% |
| 1981 | 1.48 % change on previous year | +6.9% |
| 1982 | 1.64 % change on previous year | +10.7% |
| 1983 | 1.72 % change on previous year | +5.1% |
| 1984 | 1.75 % change on previous year | +1.6% |
| 1985 | 1.79 % change on previous year | +2.5% |
| 1986 | 2.09 % change on previous year | +16.8% |
| 1987 | 2.28 % change on previous year | +9.0% |
| 1988 | 2.03 % change on previous year | -10.9% |
| 1989 | 1.94 % change on previous year | -4.5% |
| 1990 | 2.11 % change on previous year | +8.4% |
| 1991 | 2.34 % change on previous year | +11.1% |
| 1992 | 2.69 % change on previous year | +15.0% |
| 1993 | 2.9 % change on previous year | +7.7% |
| 1994 | 2.9 % change on previous year | +0.2% |
| 1995 | 2.9 % change on previous year | -0.1% |
| 1996 | 2.87 % change on previous year | -1.1% |
| 1997 | 2.83 % change on previous year | -1.6% |
| 1998 | 2.78 % change on previous year | -1.8% |
| 1999 | 2.71 % change on previous year | -2.5% |
| 2000 | 3.6 % change on previous year | +33.0% |
| 2001 | 4.37 % change on previous year | +21.4% |
| 2002 | 4.1 % change on previous year | -6.0% |
| 2003 | 3.84 % change on previous year | -6.5% |
| 2004 | 3.55 % change on previous year | -7.3% |
| 2005 | 3.31 % change on previous year | -6.7% |
| 2006 | 3.15 % change on previous year | -5.0% |
| 2007 | 3 % change on previous year | -4.6% |
| 2008 | 2.87 % change on previous year | -4.4% |
| 2009 | 2.74 % change on previous year | -4.4% |
| 2010 | -2.16 % change on previous year | -178.7% |
| 2011 | 3.62 % change on previous year | -267.6% |
| 2012 | 3.25 % change on previous year | -10.1% |
| 2013 | 4.5 % change on previous year | +38.4% |
| 2014 | 1.45 % change on previous year | -67.8% |
| 2015 | 4.26 % change on previous year | +193.9% |
| 2016 | 2.76 % change on previous year | -35.1% |
| 2017 | -0.9429 % change on previous year | -134.1% |
| 2018 | -3.51 % change on previous year | +272.7% |
| 2019 | -1.45 % change on previous year | -58.6% |
| 2020 | 3.88 % change on previous year | -366.8% |
| 2021 | -3.43 % change on previous year | -188.4% |
| 2022 | 3.45 % change on previous year | -200.7% |
| 2023 | 3.68 % change on previous year | +6.6% |
| 2024 | 3.68 % change on previous year | -0.1% |
| 2025 | 3.68 % change on previous year | +0.1% |
Saudi Arabia compared with similar countries
- Saudi Arabia's 3.68 % change on previous year is above the median for high income countries, which is -0.2844 % change on previous year. (77 countries reporting)
- Saudi Arabia's 3.68 % change on previous year is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 0.835 % change on previous year, 4.4× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Rural population, annual growth rate in Saudi Arabia changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +366.8% | -1.45 % change on previous year | 3.88 % change on previous year |
| 2018 | -272.7% | -0.9429 % change on previous year | -3.51 % change on previous year |
| 2011 | +267.6% | -2.16 % change on previous year | 3.62 % change on previous year |
| 2022 | +200.7% | -3.43 % change on previous year | 3.45 % change on previous year |
| 2015 | +193.9% | 1.45 % change on previous year | 4.26 % change on previous year |
| 2021 | -188.4% | 3.88 % change on previous year | -3.43 % change on previous year |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 0.8897 % change on previous year | 0.1407 % change on previous year | 1.75 % change on previous year | 9 |
| 1970s | 1.03 % change on previous year | 0.1532 % change on previous year | 1.41 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.81 % change on previous year | 1.38 % change on previous year | 2.28 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.7 % change on previous year | 2.11 % change on previous year | 2.9 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.45 % change on previous year | 2.74 % change on previous year | 4.37 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.18 % change on previous year | -3.51 % change on previous year | 4.5 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.49 % change on previous year | -3.43 % change on previous year | 3.88 % change on previous year | 6 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
More agriculture & rural data for Saudi Arabia
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 5.2 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0259 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 894.48 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.1539 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 2.6% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 2.6% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 0.3% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 0.6% (2024)
- Rural population 15.4% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is rural population, annual growth rate in Saudi Arabia?
- Rural population, annual growth rate in Saudi Arabia was 3.68 % change on previous year in 2025, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest rural population, annual growth rate recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 4.5 % change on previous year in 2013.
- What is the lowest rural population, annual growth rate recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was -3.51 % change on previous year in 2018.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for rural population, annual growth rate?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 4th out of 208 countries with data for 2025.
- Is rural population, annual growth rate rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 13.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Rural population, annual growth rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 65 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
The year-on-year percentage change in Rural population. Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.
Computed from
- Rural population World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN)
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
The year-on-year percentage change in Rural population. Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.