Rural population in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD)
Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD): Rural population was 354.69 million in 2025. ▲ Rising
Rural population in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD), 1960–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
Analysis
In 2025, rural population in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD) stood at 354.69 million. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
The figure is up 1.2% on the previous year and up 13.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, rural population in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD) peaked at 354.69 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 108.25 million, in 1960.
That places Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD) 27th out of 47 groups with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 66 years of available data.
Rural population in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD), year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 108.25 million | — |
| 1961 | 110.12 million | +1.7% |
| 1962 | 112.00 million | +1.7% |
| 1963 | 113.97 million | +1.8% |
| 1964 | 116.05 million | +1.8% |
| 1965 | 118.29 million | +1.9% |
| 1966 | 120.69 million | +2.0% |
| 1967 | 123.05 million | +2.0% |
| 1968 | 125.53 million | +2.0% |
| 1969 | 128.06 million | +2.0% |
| 1970 | 130.62 million | +2.0% |
| 1971 | 133.13 million | +1.9% |
| 1972 | 135.66 million | +1.9% |
| 1973 | 138.33 million | +2.0% |
| 1974 | 141.10 million | +2.0% |
| 1975 | 144.07 million | +2.1% |
| 1976 | 147.31 million | +2.2% |
| 1977 | 150.49 million | +2.2% |
| 1978 | 153.82 million | +2.2% |
| 1979 | 157.22 million | +2.2% |
| 1980 | 160.69 million | +2.2% |
| 1981 | 164.08 million | +2.1% |
| 1982 | 167.57 million | +2.1% |
| 1983 | 171.49 million | +2.3% |
| 1984 | 175.62 million | +2.4% |
| 1985 | 179.82 million | +2.4% |
| 1986 | 184.10 million | +2.4% |
| 1987 | 188.41 million | +2.3% |
| 1988 | 192.92 million | +2.4% |
| 1989 | 197.59 million | +2.4% |
| 1990 | 202.32 million | +2.4% |
| 1991 | 207.12 million | +2.4% |
| 1992 | 211.83 million | +2.3% |
| 1993 | 216.79 million | +2.3% |
| 1994 | 221.48 million | +2.2% |
| 1995 | 225.97 million | +2.0% |
| 1996 | 230.49 million | +2.0% |
| 1997 | 234.68 million | +1.8% |
| 1998 | 239.07 million | +1.9% |
| 1999 | 243.51 million | +1.9% |
| 2000 | 247.74 million | +1.7% |
| 2001 | 251.94 million | +1.7% |
| 2002 | 256.44 million | +1.8% |
| 2003 | 261.17 million | +1.8% |
| 2004 | 265.91 million | +1.8% |
| 2005 | 270.74 million | +1.8% |
| 2006 | 275.86 million | +1.9% |
| 2007 | 280.77 million | +1.8% |
| 2008 | 285.67 million | +1.7% |
| 2009 | 290.74 million | +1.8% |
| 2010 | 295.65 million | +1.7% |
| 2011 | 300.08 million | +1.5% |
| 2012 | 303.36 million | +1.1% |
| 2013 | 305.84 million | +0.8% |
| 2014 | 309.31 million | +1.1% |
| 2015 | 313.11 million | +1.2% |
| 2016 | 316.94 million | +1.2% |
| 2017 | 321.02 million | +1.3% |
| 2018 | 325.36 million | +1.3% |
| 2019 | 329.63 million | +1.3% |
| 2020 | 333.89 million | +1.3% |
| 2021 | 338.06 million | +1.2% |
| 2022 | 342.04 million | +1.2% |
| 2023 | 346.19 million | +1.2% |
| 2024 | 350.57 million | +1.3% |
| 2025 | 354.69 million | +1.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 117.60 million | 108.25 million | 128.06 million | 10 |
| 1970s | 143.17 million | 130.62 million | 157.22 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 178.23 million | 160.69 million | 197.59 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 223.33 million | 202.32 million | 243.51 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 268.70 million | 247.74 million | 290.74 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 312.03 million | 295.65 million | 329.63 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 344.24 million | 333.89 million | 354.69 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD)
- 24 South Africa 23.43 million compare
- 25 Niger 22.79 million compare
- 26 Mozambique 22.37 million compare
- 27 Madagascar 21.97 million compare
- 28 Iran, Islamic Republic of 20.91 million compare
- 29 Malawi 18.31 million compare
- 30 Uzbekistan 18.15 million compare
More agriculture & rural data for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD)
- Rural population, per capita 0.4739 units per person (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added 297.43 billion current US$ (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added 14.1% (2025)
- Rural population growth 1.2% (2025)
- Rural population 47.4% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 2.3% (2019)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 0.6% (2017)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0.0002 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.1406 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 1.17 % change on previous year (2025)
All data for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD) →
Frequently asked questions
- What is rural population in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD)?
- Rural population in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD) was 354.69 million in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest rural population recorded in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD)?
- The highest recorded value was 354.69 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest rural population recorded in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD)?
- The lowest recorded value was 108.25 million in 1960.
- How does Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD) rank for rural population?
- Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD) ranks 27th out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is rural population rising or falling in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD)?
- Over the last ten years it is up 13.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD) 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
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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. Aggregation of urban and rural population may not add up to total population because of different country coverages.