Rural population in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Rural population was 15.4% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Rural population in Saudi Arabia, 1960–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN). Measured in % of total population.
Analysis
The most recent figure for rural population in Saudi Arabia is 15.4%, measured in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 66 years on record.
The figure is down 1.0% on the previous year and down 9.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, rural population in Saudi Arabia peaked at 68.6% in 1960 and was at its lowest, 15.4%, in 2025.
Saudi Arabia ranks 171st of 217 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 in Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | % of total population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 68.6% | — |
| 1961 | 67.2% | -1.9% |
| 1962 | 65.9% | -2.0% |
| 1963 | 64.4% | -2.2% |
| 1964 | 62.8% | -2.6% |
| 1965 | 61.0% | -2.9% |
| 1966 | 59.1% | -3.1% |
| 1967 | 57.1% | -3.4% |
| 1968 | 55.0% | -3.6% |
| 1969 | 52.9% | -3.8% |
| 1970 | 50.8% | -3.9% |
| 1971 | 48.8% | -4.0% |
| 1972 | 46.8% | -4.0% |
| 1973 | 44.9% | -4.0% |
| 1974 | 43.2% | -3.8% |
| 1975 | 41.6% | -3.8% |
| 1976 | 39.9% | -3.9% |
| 1977 | 38.3% | -4.1% |
| 1978 | 36.7% | -4.2% |
| 1979 | 35.1% | -4.3% |
| 1980 | 33.6% | -4.4% |
| 1981 | 32.1% | -4.4% |
| 1982 | 30.7% | -4.4% |
| 1983 | 29.4% | -4.3% |
| 1984 | 28.2% | -4.1% |
| 1985 | 27.1% | -3.9% |
| 1986 | 26.1% | -3.5% |
| 1987 | 25.2% | -3.3% |
| 1988 | 24.4% | -3.3% |
| 1989 | 23.7% | -3.1% |
| 1990 | 23.0% | -2.8% |
| 1991 | 22.4% | -2.4% |
| 1992 | 22.0% | -1.9% |
| 1993 | 21.7% | -1.6% |
| 1994 | 21.4% | -1.4% |
| 1995 | 21.1% | -1.3% |
| 1996 | 20.8% | -1.2% |
| 1997 | 20.6% | -1.1% |
| 1998 | 20.4% | -1.0% |
| 1999 | 20.2% | -0.9% |
| 2000 | 20.0% | -0.9% |
| 2001 | 19.8% | -0.9% |
| 2002 | 19.7% | -1.0% |
| 2003 | 19.5% | -1.0% |
| 2004 | 19.2% | -1.1% |
| 2005 | 19.0% | -1.2% |
| 2006 | 18.8% | -1.2% |
| 2007 | 18.6% | -1.2% |
| 2008 | 18.4% | -1.2% |
| 2009 | 18.1% | -1.2% |
| 2010 | 17.9% | -1.2% |
| 2011 | 17.7% | -1.0% |
| 2012 | 17.6% | -1.0% |
| 2013 | 17.4% | -1.0% |
| 2014 | 17.2% | -1.0% |
| 2015 | 17.0% | -1.0% |
| 2016 | 16.9% | -1.0% |
| 2017 | 16.7% | -1.0% |
| 2018 | 16.5% | -1.0% |
| 2019 | 16.4% | -1.0% |
| 2020 | 16.2% | -1.0% |
| 2021 | 16.0% | -1.0% |
| 2022 | 15.9% | -1.0% |
| 2023 | 15.7% | -1.0% |
| 2024 | 15.5% | -1.0% |
| 2025 | 15.4% | -1.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 61.4% | 52.9% | 68.6% | 10 |
| 1970s | 42.6% | 35.1% | 50.8% | 10 |
| 1980s | 28.0% | 23.7% | 33.6% | 10 |
| 1990s | 21.4% | 20.2% | 23.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 19.1% | 18.1% | 20.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 17.1% | 16.4% | 17.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 15.8% | 15.4% | 16.2% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
- 168 United Kingdom 16.7% compare
- 169 Norway 16.4% compare
- 170 New Zealand 16.0% compare
- 172 Peru 14.4% compare
- 173 Switzerland 14.3% compare
- 174 United Arab Emirates 14.0% compare
More agriculture & rural data for Saudi Arabia
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 5.2 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0259 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 894.48 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 3.68 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.1539 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 2.6% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 2.6% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 0.3% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 0.6% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is rural population in Saudi Arabia?
- Rural population in Saudi Arabia was 15.4% in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest rural population recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 68.6% in 1960.
- What is the lowest rural population recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 15.4% in 2025.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for rural population?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 171st out of 217 countries with data for 2025.
- Is rural population rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 9.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia 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.