Rural population in Gabon
Gabon: Rural population was 7.9% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Rural population in Gabon, 1960–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN). Measured in % of total population.
Analysis
Gabon recorded 7.9% for rural population in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 66 years on record.
That represents a change of down 2.8% on the previous year and down 33.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, rural population in Gabon peaked at 87.4% in 1960 and was at its lowest, 7.9%, in 2025.
That places Gabon 190th out of 217 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Rural population in Gabon, year by year
| Year | % of total population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 87.4% | — |
| 1961 | 86.9% | -0.6% |
| 1962 | 85.8% | -1.3% |
| 1963 | 84.2% | -1.8% |
| 1964 | 82.3% | -2.3% |
| 1965 | 80.0% | -2.7% |
| 1966 | 77.6% | -3.0% |
| 1967 | 75.1% | -3.2% |
| 1968 | 72.6% | -3.3% |
| 1969 | 70.2% | -3.3% |
| 1970 | 68.0% | -3.2% |
| 1971 | 65.8% | -3.2% |
| 1972 | 63.5% | -3.5% |
| 1973 | 61.1% | -3.8% |
| 1974 | 58.6% | -4.1% |
| 1975 | 56.1% | -4.3% |
| 1976 | 53.6% | -4.4% |
| 1977 | 51.2% | -4.5% |
| 1978 | 48.9% | -4.5% |
| 1979 | 46.8% | -4.4% |
| 1980 | 44.8% | -4.3% |
| 1981 | 43.0% | -3.9% |
| 1982 | 41.5% | -3.6% |
| 1983 | 40.1% | -3.4% |
| 1984 | 38.8% | -3.2% |
| 1985 | 37.5% | -3.2% |
| 1986 | 36.3% | -3.3% |
| 1987 | 35.0% | -3.6% |
| 1988 | 33.6% | -4.0% |
| 1989 | 32.2% | -4.3% |
| 1990 | 30.7% | -4.5% |
| 1991 | 29.3% | -4.5% |
| 1992 | 28.1% | -4.4% |
| 1993 | 27.0% | -3.9% |
| 1994 | 26.0% | -3.6% |
| 1995 | 25.0% | -3.7% |
| 1996 | 24.1% | -3.8% |
| 1997 | 23.1% | -3.9% |
| 1998 | 22.2% | -4.0% |
| 1999 | 21.3% | -4.0% |
| 2000 | 20.4% | -4.1% |
| 2001 | 19.6% | -4.1% |
| 2002 | 18.8% | -4.1% |
| 2003 | 18.0% | -4.1% |
| 2004 | 17.3% | -4.1% |
| 2005 | 16.6% | -4.0% |
| 2006 | 15.9% | -3.9% |
| 2007 | 15.3% | -3.8% |
| 2008 | 14.8% | -3.6% |
| 2009 | 14.3% | -3.4% |
| 2010 | 13.8% | -3.1% |
| 2011 | 13.4% | -2.8% |
| 2012 | 13.1% | -2.4% |
| 2013 | 12.9% | -2.0% |
| 2014 | 12.4% | -3.7% |
| 2015 | 11.9% | -3.7% |
| 2016 | 11.5% | -3.9% |
| 2017 | 11.0% | -4.0% |
| 2018 | 10.5% | -4.1% |
| 2019 | 10.1% | -4.3% |
| 2020 | 9.7% | -4.4% |
| 2021 | 9.2% | -4.6% |
| 2022 | 8.8% | -4.7% |
| 2023 | 8.4% | -4.7% |
| 2024 | 8.1% | -2.7% |
| 2025 | 7.9% | -2.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 80.2% | 70.2% | 87.4% | 10 |
| 1970s | 57.4% | 46.8% | 68.0% | 10 |
| 1980s | 38.3% | 32.2% | 44.8% | 10 |
| 1990s | 25.7% | 21.3% | 30.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 17.1% | 14.3% | 20.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 12.1% | 10.1% | 13.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 8.7% | 7.9% | 9.7% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Gabon
More agriculture & rural data for Gabon
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 5.56 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0675 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 557.95 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate -0.6835 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.0791 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 6.8% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 6.8% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 3.9% (2023)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 0.3% (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is rural population in Gabon?
- Rural population in Gabon was 7.9% in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest rural population recorded in Gabon?
- The highest recorded value was 87.4% in 1960.
- What is the lowest rural population recorded in Gabon?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.9% in 2025.
- How does Gabon rank for rural population?
- Gabon ranks 190th out of 217 countries with data for 2025.
- Is rural population rising or falling in Gabon?
- Over the last ten years it is down 33.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Gabon 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.