Rural population (% of total population) (Rural World Urbanization) in Burundi
Burundi: Rural population (% of total population) (Rural World Urbanization) was 74.3% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Latest (2025)
74.3%
Change on year
down 1.1%
World rank
13th
of 218 countries
All-time high
98.2%
in 1960
All-time low
74.3%
in 2025
Years of data
66
1960–2025
Rural population in Burundi, 1960–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN). Measured in % of total population.
Analysis
In 2025, rural population in Burundi stood at 74.3%. That is the lowest value across all 66 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.1% on the previous year and down 12.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, rural population in Burundi peaked at 98.2% in 1960 and was at its lowest, 74.3%, in 2025.
That places Burundi 13th out of 218 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 66 years of available data.
Rural population (% of total population) (Rural World Urbanization) in Burundi, year by year
| Year | % of total population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 98.2% | — |
| 1961 | 98.1% | -0.1% |
| 1962 | 98.0% | -0.1% |
| 1963 | 97.9% | -0.1% |
| 1964 | 97.8% | -0.1% |
| 1965 | 97.7% | -0.1% |
| 1966 | 97.6% | -0.1% |
| 1967 | 97.5% | -0.1% |
| 1968 | 97.4% | -0.1% |
| 1969 | 97.2% | -0.1% |
| 1970 | 97.1% | -0.1% |
| 1971 | 97.0% | -0.1% |
| 1972 | 96.9% | -0.1% |
| 1973 | 96.7% | -0.1% |
| 1974 | 96.6% | -0.1% |
| 1975 | 96.4% | -0.2% |
| 1976 | 96.3% | -0.2% |
| 1977 | 96.1% | -0.2% |
| 1978 | 96.0% | -0.2% |
| 1979 | 95.8% | -0.2% |
| 1980 | 95.7% | -0.2% |
| 1981 | 95.5% | -0.2% |
| 1982 | 95.3% | -0.2% |
| 1983 | 95.1% | -0.2% |
| 1984 | 94.9% | -0.2% |
| 1985 | 94.7% | -0.2% |
| 1986 | 94.5% | -0.2% |
| 1987 | 94.3% | -0.2% |
| 1988 | 94.1% | -0.2% |
| 1989 | 93.9% | -0.2% |
| 1990 | 93.7% | -0.2% |
| 1991 | 93.5% | -0.2% |
| 1992 | 93.4% | -0.2% |
| 1993 | 93.2% | -0.2% |
| 1994 | 93.0% | -0.2% |
| 1995 | 92.8% | -0.2% |
| 1996 | 92.7% | -0.2% |
| 1997 | 92.5% | -0.2% |
| 1998 | 92.3% | -0.2% |
| 1999 | 92.1% | -0.2% |
| 2000 | 92.0% | -0.2% |
| 2001 | 91.8% | -0.2% |
| 2002 | 91.5% | -0.2% |
| 2003 | 91.3% | -0.2% |
| 2004 | 91.1% | -0.3% |
| 2005 | 90.8% | -0.3% |
| 2006 | 90.5% | -0.3% |
| 2007 | 90.2% | -0.3% |
| 2008 | 89.9% | -0.4% |
| 2009 | 89.5% | -0.4% |
| 2010 | 89.0% | -0.5% |
| 2011 | 88.4% | -0.6% |
| 2012 | 87.8% | -0.7% |
| 2013 | 87.0% | -0.8% |
| 2014 | 86.2% | -0.9% |
| 2015 | 85.3% | -1.0% |
| 2016 | 84.4% | -1.1% |
| 2017 | 83.4% | -1.2% |
| 2018 | 82.3% | -1.3% |
| 2019 | 81.2% | -1.3% |
| 2020 | 80.1% | -1.4% |
| 2021 | 78.9% | -1.5% |
| 2022 | 77.7% | -1.5% |
| 2023 | 76.4% | -1.6% |
| 2024 | 75.2% | -1.7% |
| 2025 | 74.3% | -1.1% |
Burundi compared with similar countries
- Burundi's 74.3% is above the median for low income countries, which is 65.5%, 1.1× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Burundi's 74.3% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 55.1%, 1.3× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 97.7% | 97.2% | 98.2% | 10 |
| 1970s | 96.5% | 95.8% | 97.1% | 10 |
| 1980s | 94.8% | 93.9% | 95.7% | 10 |
| 1990s | 92.9% | 92.1% | 93.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 90.9% | 89.5% | 92.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 85.5% | 81.2% | 89.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 77.1% | 74.3% | 80.1% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Burundi
- 10 Micronesia (country) 77.5% compare
- 11 Ethiopia 75.9% compare
- 12 Antigua and Barbuda 75.7% compare
- 14 Afghanistan 74.1% compare
- 15 Tajikistan 73.8% compare
- 16 Guyana 73.5% compare
More agriculture & rural data for Burundi
- Cropland extent over the long-term, annual growth rate 1.55 % change on previous year (2025)
- Cropland extent over the long-term, per unit of GDP 0.0005 hectares per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Cropland extent over the long-term, per capita 0.1198 hectares per person (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, annual growth rate 1.21 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, per unit of GDP 0.0007 hectares per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, per capita 0.1534 hectares per person (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 8.36 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.3429 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 80.18 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 1.27 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is rural population in Burundi?
- Rural population in Burundi was 74.3% in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest rural population recorded in Burundi?
- The highest recorded value was 98.2% in 1960.
- What is the lowest rural population recorded in Burundi?
- The lowest recorded value was 74.3% in 2025.
- How does Burundi rank for rural population?
- Burundi ranks 13th out of 218 countries with data for 2025.
- Is rural population rising or falling in Burundi?
- Over the last ten years it is down 12.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Burundi data come from?
- The figures come from World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN), published as part of Rural population (% of total population). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
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.