Rural population (% of total population) (Rural World Urbanization) in Qatar
Qatar: Rural population (% of total population) (Rural World Urbanization) was 0.6% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
0.6%
Change on year
down 5.5%
World rank
206th
of 218 countries
All-time high
35.0%
in 1960
All-time low
0.6%
in 2025
Years of data
66
1960–2025
Rural population in Qatar, 1960–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN). Measured in % of total population.
Analysis
In 2025, rural population in Qatar stood at 0.6%. That is the lowest value across all 66 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 5.5% on the previous year and down 39.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, rural population in Qatar peaked at 35.0% in 1960 and was at its lowest, 0.6%, in 2025.
Qatar ranks 206th of 218 countries on this measure, 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 Qatar, year by year
| Year | % of total population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 35.0% | — |
| 1961 | 33.3% | -4.9% |
| 1962 | 31.7% | -4.7% |
| 1963 | 30.3% | -4.5% |
| 1964 | 29.0% | -4.3% |
| 1965 | 27.8% | -4.2% |
| 1966 | 26.7% | -4.0% |
| 1967 | 25.6% | -3.8% |
| 1968 | 24.7% | -3.7% |
| 1969 | 23.8% | -3.6% |
| 1970 | 23.0% | -3.5% |
| 1971 | 22.3% | -3.2% |
| 1972 | 21.6% | -2.9% |
| 1973 | 21.1% | -2.6% |
| 1974 | 20.5% | -2.4% |
| 1975 | 20.1% | -2.4% |
| 1976 | 19.6% | -2.5% |
| 1977 | 19.0% | -2.7% |
| 1978 | 18.4% | -3.1% |
| 1979 | 17.8% | -3.6% |
| 1980 | 17.0% | -4.4% |
| 1981 | 16.0% | -6.2% |
| 1982 | 14.6% | -8.5% |
| 1983 | 13.1% | -10.2% |
| 1984 | 11.7% | -11.0% |
| 1985 | 10.4% | -10.5% |
| 1986 | 9.6% | -8.3% |
| 1987 | 8.9% | -7.2% |
| 1988 | 8.2% | -7.3% |
| 1989 | 7.6% | -7.3% |
| 1990 | 7.1% | -7.3% |
| 1991 | 6.6% | -7.2% |
| 1992 | 6.1% | -7.2% |
| 1993 | 5.7% | -7.0% |
| 1994 | 5.3% | -6.9% |
| 1995 | 4.9% | -6.7% |
| 1996 | 4.6% | -6.4% |
| 1997 | 4.3% | -6.0% |
| 1998 | 4.1% | -5.5% |
| 1999 | 3.9% | -5.0% |
| 2000 | 3.7% | -4.7% |
| 2001 | 3.5% | -4.7% |
| 2002 | 3.4% | -5.0% |
| 2003 | 3.2% | -5.6% |
| 2004 | 3.0% | -6.8% |
| 2005 | 2.7% | -8.6% |
| 2006 | 2.4% | -10.4% |
| 2007 | 2.1% | -11.7% |
| 2008 | 1.9% | -12.3% |
| 2009 | 1.7% | -11.8% |
| 2010 | 1.5% | -9.5% |
| 2011 | 1.4% | -8.3% |
| 2012 | 1.3% | -8.2% |
| 2013 | 1.2% | -7.4% |
| 2014 | 1.1% | -5.7% |
| 2015 | 1.1% | -3.3% |
| 2016 | 1.0% | -4.5% |
| 2017 | 1.0% | -4.5% |
| 2018 | 0.9% | -4.6% |
| 2019 | 0.9% | -4.7% |
| 2020 | 0.8% | -4.8% |
| 2021 | 0.8% | -5.0% |
| 2022 | 0.8% | -5.1% |
| 2023 | 0.7% | -5.2% |
| 2024 | 0.7% | -5.4% |
| 2025 | 0.6% | -5.5% |
Qatar compared with similar countries
- Qatar's 0.6% is below the median for high income countries, which is 18.7%, 3% of the median. (85 countries reporting)
- Qatar's 0.6% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 20.5%, 3% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 28.8% | 23.8% | 35.0% | 10 |
| 1970s | 20.3% | 17.8% | 23.0% | 10 |
| 1980s | 11.7% | 7.6% | 17.0% | 10 |
| 1990s | 5.3% | 3.9% | 7.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.7% | 1.7% | 3.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.1% | 0.9% | 1.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.7% | 0.6% | 0.8% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Qatar
- 203 Malta 4.3% compare
- 204 Netherlands 4.1% compare
- 205 San Marino 2.8% compare
- 207 Bahrain 0.0% compare
- 207 Bermuda 0.0% compare
- 207 Cayman Islands 0.0%
- 207 Gibraltar 0.0%
- 207 Hong Kong 0.0% compare
- 207 Kuwait 0.0% compare
- 207 Macao 0.0% compare
- 207 Monaco 0.0%
- 207 Nauru 0.0%
- 207 Singapore 0.0%
- 207 Sint Maarten (Dutch part) 0.0%
- 207 Saint Martin (French part) 0.0%
More agriculture & rural data for Qatar
- 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 hectares per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Cropland extent over the long-term, per capita 0.0081 hectares per person (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, per unit of GDP 0 hectares per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, per capita 0.0249 hectares per person (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 4.94 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0031 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 221.93 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate -1.72 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is rural population in Qatar?
- Rural population in Qatar was 0.6% in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest rural population recorded in Qatar?
- The highest recorded value was 35.0% in 1960.
- What is the lowest rural population recorded in Qatar?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.6% in 2025.
- How does Qatar rank for rural population?
- Qatar ranks 206th out of 218 countries with data for 2025.
- Is rural population rising or falling in Qatar?
- Over the last ten years it is down 39.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Qatar 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.