Rural population growth in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Rural population growth was 3.6% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Rural population growth in Saudi Arabia, 1961–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN). Measured in annual %.
Analysis
In 2025, rural population growth in Saudi Arabia stood at 3.6%.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.1% on the previous year and down 13.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, rural population growth in Saudi Arabia peaked at 4.4% in 2013 and was at its lowest, -3.6%, in 2018.
That places Saudi Arabia 4th out of 209 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Rural population growth in Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | annual % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 1.7% | — |
| 1962 | 1.7% | -4.8% |
| 1963 | 1.4% | -12.9% |
| 1964 | 1.1% | -22.7% |
| 1965 | 0.8% | -27.6% |
| 1966 | 0.5% | -34.9% |
| 1967 | 0.3% | -37.3% |
| 1968 | 0.2% | -35.5% |
| 1969 | 0.1% | -33.6% |
| 1970 | 0.2% | +8.6% |
| 1971 | 0.3% | +119.3% |
| 1972 | 0.6% | +91.0% |
| 1973 | 0.9% | +46.5% |
| 1974 | 1.2% | +32.3% |
| 1975 | 1.4% | +11.0% |
| 1976 | 1.4% | -1.7% |
| 1977 | 1.4% | +2.0% |
| 1978 | 1.4% | +1.0% |
| 1979 | 1.4% | -0.7% |
| 1980 | 1.4% | -0.9% |
| 1981 | 1.5% | +6.9% |
| 1982 | 1.6% | +10.6% |
| 1983 | 1.7% | +5.1% |
| 1984 | 1.7% | +1.5% |
| 1985 | 1.8% | +2.5% |
| 1986 | 2.1% | +16.6% |
| 1987 | 2.3% | +9.0% |
| 1988 | 2.0% | -10.8% |
| 1989 | 1.9% | -4.4% |
| 1990 | 2.1% | +8.3% |
| 1991 | 2.3% | +11.0% |
| 1992 | 2.7% | +14.8% |
| 1993 | 2.9% | +7.6% |
| 1994 | 2.9% | +0.2% |
| 1995 | 2.9% | -0.1% |
| 1996 | 2.8% | -1.0% |
| 1997 | 2.8% | -1.5% |
| 1998 | 2.7% | -1.7% |
| 1999 | 2.7% | -2.5% |
| 2000 | 3.5% | +32.4% |
| 2001 | 4.3% | +20.9% |
| 2002 | 4.0% | -5.9% |
| 2003 | 3.8% | -6.4% |
| 2004 | 3.5% | -7.2% |
| 2005 | 3.3% | -6.6% |
| 2006 | 3.1% | -4.9% |
| 2007 | 3.0% | -4.5% |
| 2008 | 2.8% | -4.4% |
| 2009 | 2.7% | -4.4% |
| 2010 | -2.2% | -180.6% |
| 2011 | 3.6% | -262.9% |
| 2012 | 3.2% | -10.0% |
| 2013 | 4.4% | +37.6% |
| 2014 | 1.4% | -67.3% |
| 2015 | 4.2% | +189.9% |
| 2016 | 2.7% | -34.7% |
| 2017 | -0.9% | -134.8% |
| 2018 | -3.6% | +277.7% |
| 2019 | -1.5% | -59.1% |
| 2020 | 3.8% | -359.9% |
| 2021 | -3.5% | -191.7% |
| 2022 | 3.4% | -197.3% |
| 2023 | 3.6% | +6.5% |
| 2024 | 3.6% | -0.1% |
| 2025 | 3.6% | +0.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 0.9% | 0.1% | 1.7% | 9 |
| 1970s | 1.0% | 0.2% | 1.4% | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.8% | 1.4% | 2.3% | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.7% | 2.1% | 2.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.4% | 2.7% | 4.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.1% | -3.6% | 4.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.4% | -3.5% | 3.8% | 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, annual growth rate 3.68 % change on previous year (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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is rural population growth in Saudi Arabia?
- Rural population growth in Saudi Arabia was 3.6% in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest rural population growth recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 4.4% in 2013.
- What is the lowest rural population growth recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was -3.6% in 2018.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for rural population growth?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 4th out of 209 countries with data for 2025.
- Is rural population growth rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 13.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia data come from?
- The figures come from World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN), published as part of Rural population growth (annual %). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Annual rural population growth rate for year t is the exponential rate of growth of midyear rural population from year t-1 to t, expressed as a percentage. Rural population refers to people living in rural areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated as the difference between total population and urban population.