Rural population (% of total population) (Rural World Urbanization) in Somalia
Somalia: Rural population (% of total population) (Rural World Urbanization) was 44.9% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Rural population in Somalia, 1960–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN). Measured in % of total population.
Analysis
In 2025, rural population in Somalia stood at 44.9%. That is the lowest value across all 66 years on record.
The figure is down 1.2% on the previous year and down 20.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, rural population in Somalia peaked at 82.3% in 1960 and was at its lowest, 44.9%, in 2025.
That places Somalia 75th 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 Somalia, year by year
| Year | % of total population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 82.3% | — |
| 1961 | 81.8% | -0.6% |
| 1962 | 81.3% | -0.6% |
| 1963 | 80.8% | -0.6% |
| 1964 | 80.3% | -0.7% |
| 1965 | 79.7% | -0.7% |
| 1966 | 79.1% | -0.7% |
| 1967 | 78.5% | -0.8% |
| 1968 | 77.9% | -0.8% |
| 1969 | 77.3% | -0.8% |
| 1970 | 76.8% | -0.7% |
| 1971 | 76.2% | -0.7% |
| 1972 | 75.7% | -0.7% |
| 1973 | 75.2% | -0.6% |
| 1974 | 74.8% | -0.5% |
| 1975 | 74.5% | -0.5% |
| 1976 | 74.2% | -0.4% |
| 1977 | 73.9% | -0.4% |
| 1978 | 73.6% | -0.3% |
| 1979 | 73.4% | -0.3% |
| 1980 | 73.2% | -0.3% |
| 1981 | 72.9% | -0.3% |
| 1982 | 72.7% | -0.3% |
| 1983 | 72.5% | -0.3% |
| 1984 | 72.3% | -0.3% |
| 1985 | 72.0% | -0.3% |
| 1986 | 71.8% | -0.4% |
| 1987 | 71.5% | -0.4% |
| 1988 | 71.2% | -0.4% |
| 1989 | 70.9% | -0.4% |
| 1990 | 70.6% | -0.4% |
| 1991 | 70.3% | -0.4% |
| 1992 | 70.0% | -0.5% |
| 1993 | 69.6% | -0.5% |
| 1994 | 69.3% | -0.5% |
| 1995 | 68.9% | -0.5% |
| 1996 | 68.6% | -0.5% |
| 1997 | 68.2% | -0.6% |
| 1998 | 67.8% | -0.6% |
| 1999 | 67.4% | -0.6% |
| 2000 | 66.9% | -0.6% |
| 2001 | 66.5% | -0.7% |
| 2002 | 66.0% | -0.7% |
| 2003 | 65.5% | -0.7% |
| 2004 | 65.0% | -0.7% |
| 2005 | 64.5% | -0.8% |
| 2006 | 64.0% | -0.8% |
| 2007 | 63.4% | -0.9% |
| 2008 | 62.8% | -1.0% |
| 2009 | 62.2% | -1.1% |
| 2010 | 61.4% | -1.2% |
| 2011 | 60.6% | -1.3% |
| 2012 | 59.7% | -1.5% |
| 2013 | 58.7% | -1.7% |
| 2014 | 57.6% | -1.9% |
| 2015 | 56.1% | -2.6% |
| 2016 | 54.1% | -3.7% |
| 2017 | 51.6% | -4.5% |
| 2018 | 49.0% | -5.0% |
| 2019 | 48.4% | -1.4% |
| 2020 | 47.7% | -1.3% |
| 2021 | 47.1% | -1.3% |
| 2022 | 46.5% | -1.3% |
| 2023 | 45.9% | -1.2% |
| 2024 | 45.4% | -1.2% |
| 2025 | 44.9% | -1.2% |
Somalia compared with similar countries
- Somalia's 44.9% is below the median for low income countries, which is 65.5%, 69% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Somalia's 44.9% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 55.1%, 81% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 79.9% | 77.3% | 82.3% | 10 |
| 1970s | 74.8% | 73.4% | 76.8% | 10 |
| 1980s | 72.1% | 70.9% | 73.2% | 10 |
| 1990s | 69.1% | 67.4% | 70.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 64.7% | 62.2% | 66.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 55.7% | 48.4% | 61.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 46.2% | 44.9% | 47.7% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Somalia
More agriculture & rural data for Somalia
- Cropland extent over the long-term, annual growth rate 0.0707 % 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 0.0576 hectares per person (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, annual growth rate 0.0018 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, per unit of GDP 0.0034 hectares per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, per capita 2.25 hectares per person (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual -13.31 % change on previous year (1990)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.5579 current US$ per US$ of GDP (1990)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 81.24 current US$ per person (1990)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 2.21 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is rural population in Somalia?
- Rural population in Somalia was 44.9% in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest rural population recorded in Somalia?
- The highest recorded value was 82.3% in 1960.
- What is the lowest rural population recorded in Somalia?
- The lowest recorded value was 44.9% in 2025.
- How does Somalia rank for rural population?
- Somalia ranks 75th out of 218 countries with data for 2025.
- Is rural population rising or falling in Somalia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 20.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Somalia 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.