Rural population in Least developed countries
Least developed countries: Rural population was 769.36 million in 2025. ▲ Rising
Rural population in Least developed countries, 1960–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
Analysis
In 2025, rural population in Least developed countries stood at 769.36 million. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
The figure is up 1.6% on the previous year and up 17.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, rural population in Least developed countries peaked at 769.36 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 222.12 million, in 1960.
Least developed countries ranks 16th of 47 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 66 years of available data.
Rural population in Least developed countries, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 222.12 million | — |
| 1961 | 226.88 million | +2.1% |
| 1962 | 231.81 million | +2.2% |
| 1963 | 236.86 million | +2.2% |
| 1964 | 242.05 million | +2.2% |
| 1965 | 247.40 million | +2.2% |
| 1966 | 252.84 million | +2.2% |
| 1967 | 258.48 million | +2.2% |
| 1968 | 264.26 million | +2.2% |
| 1969 | 269.99 million | +2.2% |
| 1970 | 275.54 million | +2.1% |
| 1971 | 280.45 million | +1.8% |
| 1972 | 285.40 million | +1.8% |
| 1973 | 291.33 million | +2.1% |
| 1974 | 298.55 million | +2.5% |
| 1975 | 305.31 million | +2.3% |
| 1976 | 310.71 million | +1.8% |
| 1977 | 315.95 million | +1.7% |
| 1978 | 321.62 million | +1.8% |
| 1979 | 327.67 million | +1.9% |
| 1980 | 333.15 million | +1.7% |
| 1981 | 338.81 million | +1.7% |
| 1982 | 345.72 million | +2.0% |
| 1983 | 353.39 million | +2.2% |
| 1984 | 361.09 million | +2.2% |
| 1985 | 368.75 million | +2.1% |
| 1986 | 376.40 million | +2.1% |
| 1987 | 383.99 million | +2.0% |
| 1988 | 391.66 million | +2.0% |
| 1989 | 399.46 million | +2.0% |
| 1990 | 407.30 million | +2.0% |
| 1991 | 415.06 million | +1.9% |
| 1992 | 424.24 million | +2.2% |
| 1993 | 434.37 million | +2.4% |
| 1994 | 444.15 million | +2.3% |
| 1995 | 453.94 million | +2.2% |
| 1996 | 464.05 million | +2.2% |
| 1997 | 474.02 million | +2.1% |
| 1998 | 483.89 million | +2.1% |
| 1999 | 493.62 million | +2.0% |
| 2000 | 502.98 million | +1.9% |
| 2001 | 512.30 million | +1.9% |
| 2002 | 522.25 million | +1.9% |
| 2003 | 532.23 million | +1.9% |
| 2004 | 541.67 million | +1.8% |
| 2005 | 551.16 million | +1.8% |
| 2006 | 560.74 million | +1.7% |
| 2007 | 570.27 million | +1.7% |
| 2008 | 579.34 million | +1.6% |
| 2009 | 589.12 million | +1.7% |
| 2010 | 599.08 million | +1.7% |
| 2011 | 609.57 million | +1.8% |
| 2012 | 620.49 million | +1.8% |
| 2013 | 631.47 million | +1.8% |
| 2014 | 642.34 million | +1.7% |
| 2015 | 653.14 million | +1.7% |
| 2016 | 664.11 million | +1.7% |
| 2017 | 675.19 million | +1.7% |
| 2018 | 686.38 million | +1.7% |
| 2019 | 698.22 million | +1.7% |
| 2020 | 710.50 million | +1.8% |
| 2021 | 722.45 million | +1.7% |
| 2022 | 733.96 million | +1.6% |
| 2023 | 745.84 million | +1.6% |
| 2024 | 757.59 million | +1.6% |
| 2025 | 769.36 million | +1.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 245.27 million | 222.12 million | 269.99 million | 10 |
| 1970s | 301.25 million | 275.54 million | 327.67 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 365.24 million | 333.15 million | 399.46 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 449.46 million | 407.30 million | 493.62 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 546.21 million | 502.98 million | 589.12 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 648.00 million | 599.08 million | 698.22 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 739.95 million | 710.50 million | 769.36 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near Least developed countries
More agriculture & rural data for Least developed countries
- Agricultural raw materials exports 3.1% (2023)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added 337.24 billion current US$ (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added 20.4% (2025)
- Rural population growth 1.5% (2025)
- Rural population 63.4% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 1.2% (2019)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 277.75 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.6336 units per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 1.55 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.2039 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is rural population in Least developed countries?
- Rural population in Least developed countries was 769.36 million in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest rural population recorded in Least developed countries?
- The highest recorded value was 769.36 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest rural population recorded in Least developed countries?
- The lowest recorded value was 222.12 million in 1960.
- How does Least developed countries rank for rural population?
- Least developed countries ranks 16th out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is rural population rising or falling in Least developed countries?
- Over the last ten years it is up 17.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Least developed countries 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.