Rural population (% of total population) (Rural World Urbanization) in Lebanon
Lebanon: Rural population (% of total population) (Rural World Urbanization) was 9.0% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Rural population in Lebanon, 1960–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN). Measured in % of total population.
Analysis
The most recent figure for rural population in Lebanon is 9.0%, measured in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 66 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.8% on the previous year and down 20.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, rural population in Lebanon peaked at 58.3% in 1960 and was at its lowest, 9.0%, in 2025.
That places Lebanon 188th out of 218 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 (% of total population) (Rural World Urbanization) in Lebanon, year by year
| Year | % of total population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 58.3% | — |
| 1961 | 56.7% | -2.7% |
| 1962 | 55.0% | -3.0% |
| 1963 | 53.2% | -3.3% |
| 1964 | 51.3% | -3.5% |
| 1965 | 49.4% | -3.7% |
| 1966 | 47.5% | -3.9% |
| 1967 | 45.6% | -4.0% |
| 1968 | 43.8% | -4.0% |
| 1969 | 42.1% | -3.9% |
| 1970 | 40.5% | -3.8% |
| 1971 | 39.0% | -3.7% |
| 1972 | 37.5% | -3.9% |
| 1973 | 35.9% | -4.1% |
| 1974 | 34.4% | -4.3% |
| 1975 | 32.9% | -4.5% |
| 1976 | 31.3% | -4.7% |
| 1977 | 29.8% | -4.8% |
| 1978 | 28.3% | -5.0% |
| 1979 | 26.9% | -5.1% |
| 1980 | 25.5% | -5.2% |
| 1981 | 24.2% | -5.2% |
| 1982 | 22.9% | -5.2% |
| 1983 | 21.8% | -5.1% |
| 1984 | 20.7% | -4.9% |
| 1985 | 19.7% | -4.6% |
| 1986 | 18.9% | -4.3% |
| 1987 | 18.2% | -3.8% |
| 1988 | 17.6% | -3.2% |
| 1989 | 17.1% | -2.8% |
| 1990 | 16.7% | -2.7% |
| 1991 | 16.2% | -2.6% |
| 1992 | 15.8% | -2.4% |
| 1993 | 15.5% | -2.3% |
| 1994 | 15.2% | -2.1% |
| 1995 | 14.9% | -1.9% |
| 1996 | 14.6% | -1.7% |
| 1997 | 14.4% | -1.5% |
| 1998 | 14.2% | -1.2% |
| 1999 | 14.1% | -0.9% |
| 2000 | 14.0% | -0.7% |
| 2001 | 13.9% | -1.0% |
| 2002 | 13.7% | -1.1% |
| 2003 | 13.6% | -1.1% |
| 2004 | 13.4% | -1.2% |
| 2005 | 13.2% | -1.2% |
| 2006 | 13.1% | -1.3% |
| 2007 | 12.9% | -1.3% |
| 2008 | 12.7% | -1.4% |
| 2009 | 12.5% | -1.4% |
| 2010 | 12.4% | -1.5% |
| 2011 | 12.2% | -1.5% |
| 2012 | 12.0% | -1.6% |
| 2013 | 11.8% | -1.6% |
| 2014 | 11.6% | -1.7% |
| 2015 | 11.4% | -1.8% |
| 2016 | 11.2% | -1.9% |
| 2017 | 10.9% | -1.9% |
| 2018 | 10.7% | -2.0% |
| 2019 | 10.5% | -2.1% |
| 2020 | 10.3% | -2.2% |
| 2021 | 10.0% | -2.3% |
| 2022 | 9.8% | -2.4% |
| 2023 | 9.5% | -2.5% |
| 2024 | 9.3% | -2.6% |
| 2025 | 9.0% | -2.8% |
Lebanon compared with similar countries
- Lebanon's 9.0% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 49.1%, 18% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Lebanon's 9.0% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 20.5%, 44% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 50.3% | 42.1% | 58.3% | 10 |
| 1970s | 33.7% | 26.9% | 40.5% | 10 |
| 1980s | 20.7% | 17.1% | 25.5% | 10 |
| 1990s | 15.2% | 14.1% | 16.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 13.3% | 12.5% | 14.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 11.5% | 10.5% | 12.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 9.7% | 9.0% | 10.3% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Lebanon
More agriculture & rural data for Lebanon
- Cropland extent over the long-term, annual growth rate 0.8243 % change on previous year (2025)
- Cropland extent over the long-term, per unit of GDP 0 hectares per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Cropland extent over the long-term, per capita 0.0491 hectares per person (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, annual growth rate 0.3428 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, per unit of GDP 0 hectares per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, per capita 0.1174 hectares per person (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 39.87 % change on previous year (2024)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0105 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 46.75 current US$ per person (2024)
- Rural population, annual growth rate -2.03 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is rural population in Lebanon?
- Rural population in Lebanon was 9.0% in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest rural population recorded in Lebanon?
- The highest recorded value was 58.3% in 1960.
- What is the lowest rural population recorded in Lebanon?
- The lowest recorded value was 9.0% in 2025.
- How does Lebanon rank for rural population?
- Lebanon ranks 188th out of 218 countries with data for 2025.
- Is rural population rising or falling in Lebanon?
- Over the last ten years it is down 20.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Lebanon 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.
Download this data
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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.