Rural population in Belize
Belize: Rural population was 247,148 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Rural population in Belize, 1960–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
Analysis
Belize recorded 247,148 for rural population in 2025. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
That represents a change of up 1.7% on the previous year and up 23.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, rural population in Belize peaked at 247,148 in 2025 and was at its lowest, 42,111, in 1960.
That places Belize 161st out of 218 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Rural population in Belize, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 42,111 | — |
| 1961 | 43,165 | +2.5% |
| 1962 | 44,245 | +2.5% |
| 1963 | 45,428 | +2.7% |
| 1964 | 46,709 | +2.8% |
| 1965 | 48,063 | +2.9% |
| 1966 | 49,488 | +3.0% |
| 1967 | 50,978 | +3.0% |
| 1968 | 52,509 | +3.0% |
| 1969 | 54,003 | +2.8% |
| 1970 | 55,233 | +2.3% |
| 1971 | 56,254 | +1.8% |
| 1972 | 57,281 | +1.8% |
| 1973 | 58,346 | +1.9% |
| 1974 | 59,471 | +1.9% |
| 1975 | 60,872 | +2.4% |
| 1976 | 62,564 | +2.8% |
| 1977 | 64,332 | +2.8% |
| 1978 | 66,144 | +2.8% |
| 1979 | 68,034 | +2.9% |
| 1980 | 70,126 | +3.1% |
| 1981 | 72,472 | +3.3% |
| 1982 | 74,989 | +3.5% |
| 1983 | 77,618 | +3.5% |
| 1984 | 80,330 | +3.5% |
| 1985 | 83,094 | +3.4% |
| 1986 | 85,869 | +3.3% |
| 1987 | 88,622 | +3.2% |
| 1988 | 91,322 | +3.0% |
| 1989 | 93,932 | +2.9% |
| 1990 | 96,376 | +2.6% |
| 1991 | 98,572 | +2.3% |
| 1992 | 100,618 | +2.1% |
| 1993 | 102,609 | +2.0% |
| 1994 | 104,712 | +2.0% |
| 1995 | 107,241 | +2.4% |
| 1996 | 110,345 | +2.9% |
| 1997 | 113,958 | +3.3% |
| 1998 | 117,896 | +3.5% |
| 1999 | 121,949 | +3.4% |
| 2000 | 125,977 | +3.3% |
| 2001 | 130,087 | +3.3% |
| 2002 | 134,439 | +3.3% |
| 2003 | 139,063 | +3.4% |
| 2004 | 143,933 | +3.5% |
| 2005 | 149,021 | +3.5% |
| 2006 | 154,278 | +3.5% |
| 2007 | 159,653 | +3.5% |
| 2008 | 165,086 | +3.4% |
| 2009 | 170,503 | +3.3% |
| 2010 | 175,522 | +2.9% |
| 2011 | 180,204 | +2.7% |
| 2012 | 184,963 | +2.6% |
| 2013 | 189,815 | +2.6% |
| 2014 | 194,751 | +2.6% |
| 2015 | 199,792 | +2.6% |
| 2016 | 205,414 | +2.8% |
| 2017 | 211,154 | +2.8% |
| 2018 | 216,102 | +2.3% |
| 2019 | 220,278 | +1.9% |
| 2020 | 224,131 | +1.7% |
| 2021 | 227,755 | +1.6% |
| 2022 | 233,032 | +2.3% |
| 2023 | 238,664 | +2.4% |
| 2024 | 242,931 | +1.8% |
| 2025 | 247,148 | +1.7% |
Belize compared with similar countries
- Belize's 247,148 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1.53 million, 16% of the median. (59 countries reporting)
- Belize's 247,148 is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 622,054, 40% of the median. (42 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 47,670 | 42,111 | 54,003 | 10 |
| 1970s | 60,853 | 55,233 | 68,034 | 10 |
| 1980s | 81,837 | 70,126 | 93,932 | 10 |
| 1990s | 107,428 | 96,376 | 121,949 | 10 |
| 2000s | 147,204 | 125,977 | 170,503 | 10 |
| 2010s | 197,800 | 175,522 | 220,278 | 10 |
| 2020s | 235,610 | 224,131 | 247,148 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Belize
More agriculture & rural data for Belize
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 2.52 % change on previous year (2024)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0795 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 610.5 current US$ per person (2024)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 1.74 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.5844 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 7.9% (2024)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 7.9% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 0.8% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 1.9% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is rural population in Belize?
- Rural population in Belize was 247,148 in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest rural population recorded in Belize?
- The highest recorded value was 247,148 in 2025.
- What is the lowest rural population recorded in Belize?
- The lowest recorded value was 42,111 in 1960.
- How does Belize rank for rural population?
- Belize ranks 161st out of 218 countries with data for 2025.
- Is rural population rising or falling in Belize?
- Over the last ten years it is up 23.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Belize data come from?
- The figures come from World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN), published as part of Rural population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 66 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
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. Aggregation of urban and rural population may not add up to total population because of different country coverages.