Rural population (% of total population) (Rural World Urbanization) in Liberia
Liberia: Rural population (% of total population) (Rural World Urbanization) was 43.9% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Rural population in Liberia, 1960–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN). Measured in % of total population.
Analysis
The most recent figure for rural population in Liberia is 43.9%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.2% on the previous year and down 10.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, rural population in Liberia peaked at 81.4% in 1960 and was at its lowest, 42.0%, in 1991.
That places Liberia 81st out of 218 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 66 years of available data.
Rural population (% of total population) (Rural World Urbanization) in Liberia, year by year
| Year | % of total population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 81.4% | — |
| 1961 | 80.8% | -0.8% |
| 1962 | 80.1% | -0.8% |
| 1963 | 79.4% | -0.9% |
| 1964 | 78.6% | -0.9% |
| 1965 | 77.9% | -1.0% |
| 1966 | 77.1% | -1.0% |
| 1967 | 76.3% | -1.0% |
| 1968 | 75.5% | -1.0% |
| 1969 | 74.7% | -1.1% |
| 1970 | 73.9% | -1.1% |
| 1971 | 73.1% | -1.1% |
| 1972 | 72.2% | -1.2% |
| 1973 | 71.4% | -1.2% |
| 1974 | 70.5% | -1.2% |
| 1975 | 69.5% | -1.4% |
| 1976 | 68.5% | -1.5% |
| 1977 | 67.4% | -1.6% |
| 1978 | 66.3% | -1.6% |
| 1979 | 65.2% | -1.6% |
| 1980 | 64.2% | -1.6% |
| 1981 | 63.2% | -1.5% |
| 1982 | 62.3% | -1.4% |
| 1983 | 61.5% | -1.2% |
| 1984 | 60.9% | -1.0% |
| 1985 | 60.5% | -0.7% |
| 1986 | 63.3% | +4.6% |
| 1987 | 59.3% | -6.3% |
| 1988 | 58.7% | -1.0% |
| 1989 | 58.1% | -0.9% |
| 1990 | 56.7% | -2.5% |
| 1991 | 42.0% | -25.9% |
| 1992 | 43.6% | +3.7% |
| 1993 | 47.3% | +8.6% |
| 1994 | 51.7% | +9.4% |
| 1995 | 55.5% | +7.2% |
| 1996 | 57.0% | +2.8% |
| 1997 | 57.0% | -0.1% |
| 1998 | 56.8% | -0.3% |
| 1999 | 56.6% | -0.4% |
| 2000 | 56.2% | -0.6% |
| 2001 | 55.8% | -0.7% |
| 2002 | 55.4% | -0.7% |
| 2003 | 55.0% | -0.8% |
| 2004 | 54.6% | -0.8% |
| 2005 | 54.1% | -0.8% |
| 2006 | 53.8% | -0.7% |
| 2007 | 53.4% | -0.7% |
| 2008 | 52.9% | -0.9% |
| 2009 | 52.4% | -1.0% |
| 2010 | 51.9% | -1.0% |
| 2011 | 51.3% | -1.0% |
| 2012 | 50.8% | -1.0% |
| 2013 | 50.3% | -1.0% |
| 2014 | 49.8% | -1.0% |
| 2015 | 49.3% | -1.1% |
| 2016 | 48.7% | -1.1% |
| 2017 | 48.2% | -1.1% |
| 2018 | 47.7% | -1.1% |
| 2019 | 47.1% | -1.1% |
| 2020 | 46.6% | -1.1% |
| 2021 | 46.1% | -1.1% |
| 2022 | 45.5% | -1.2% |
| 2023 | 45.0% | -1.2% |
| 2024 | 44.5% | -1.2% |
| 2025 | 43.9% | -1.2% |
Liberia compared with similar countries
- Liberia's 43.9% is below the median for low income countries, which is 65.5%, 67% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Liberia's 43.9% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 55.1%, 80% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Rural population (% of total population) (Rural World Urbanization) in Liberia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | -25.9% | 56.7% | 42.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 78.2% | 74.7% | 81.4% | 10 |
| 1970s | 69.8% | 65.2% | 73.9% | 10 |
| 1980s | 61.2% | 58.1% | 64.2% | 10 |
| 1990s | 52.4% | 42.0% | 57.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 54.4% | 52.4% | 56.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 49.5% | 47.1% | 51.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 45.3% | 43.9% | 46.6% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Liberia
More agriculture & rural data for Liberia
- Cropland extent over the long-term, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Cropland extent over the long-term, per unit of GDP 0.0001 hectares per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Cropland extent over the long-term, per capita 0.1221 hectares per person (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, annual growth rate 0.1671 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, per unit of GDP 0.0004 hectares per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, per capita 0.3378 hectares per person (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 5.94 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.3265 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 298.89 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 0.8615 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is rural population in Liberia?
- Rural population in Liberia was 43.9% in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest rural population recorded in Liberia?
- The highest recorded value was 81.4% in 1960.
- What is the lowest rural population recorded in Liberia?
- The lowest recorded value was 42.0% in 1991.
- How does Liberia rank for rural population?
- Liberia ranks 81st out of 218 countries with data for 2025.
- Is rural population rising or falling in Liberia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 10.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Liberia 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.