Rural population in Gabon
Gabon: Rural population was 8.7% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Rural population in Gabon, 1970–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in % of total population.
Analysis
Gabon recorded 8.7% for rural population in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 55 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.1% on the previous year and down 29.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, rural population in Gabon peaked at 68.0% in 1970 and was at its lowest, 8.7%, in 2024.
That places Gabon 187th out of 214 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Rural population in Gabon, year by year
| Year | % of total population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 68.0% | — |
| 1971 | 65.9% | -3.1% |
| 1972 | 63.8% | -3.3% |
| 1973 | 61.6% | -3.4% |
| 1974 | 59.3% | -3.7% |
| 1975 | 57.0% | -3.9% |
| 1976 | 54.7% | -4.1% |
| 1977 | 52.4% | -4.3% |
| 1978 | 50.0% | -4.5% |
| 1979 | 47.7% | -4.7% |
| 1980 | 45.3% | -4.9% |
| 1981 | 43.0% | -5.1% |
| 1982 | 41.6% | -3.2% |
| 1983 | 40.3% | -3.3% |
| 1984 | 38.9% | -3.3% |
| 1985 | 37.6% | -3.4% |
| 1986 | 36.3% | -3.5% |
| 1987 | 35.0% | -3.6% |
| 1988 | 33.6% | -4.0% |
| 1989 | 32.2% | -4.1% |
| 1990 | 30.9% | -4.2% |
| 1991 | 29.5% | -4.3% |
| 1992 | 28.3% | -4.4% |
| 1993 | 27.0% | -4.4% |
| 1994 | 26.1% | -3.4% |
| 1995 | 25.2% | -3.4% |
| 1996 | 24.3% | -3.4% |
| 1997 | 23.5% | -3.4% |
| 1998 | 22.7% | -3.5% |
| 1999 | 21.9% | -3.5% |
| 2000 | 21.1% | -3.5% |
| 2001 | 20.4% | -3.6% |
| 2002 | 19.6% | -3.6% |
| 2003 | 18.9% | -3.6% |
| 2004 | 18.2% | -3.7% |
| 2005 | 17.5% | -3.7% |
| 2006 | 16.9% | -3.7% |
| 2007 | 16.3% | -3.8% |
| 2008 | 15.6% | -3.8% |
| 2009 | 15.0% | -3.8% |
| 2010 | 14.5% | -3.8% |
| 2011 | 13.9% | -3.9% |
| 2012 | 13.4% | -3.9% |
| 2013 | 12.8% | -3.9% |
| 2014 | 12.3% | -3.9% |
| 2015 | 11.9% | -3.8% |
| 2016 | 11.4% | -3.7% |
| 2017 | 11.0% | -3.6% |
| 2018 | 10.6% | -3.6% |
| 2019 | 10.3% | -3.5% |
| 2020 | 9.9% | -3.4% |
| 2021 | 9.6% | -3.3% |
| 2022 | 9.3% | -3.3% |
| 2023 | 9.0% | -3.2% |
| 2024 | 8.7% | -3.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 58.0% | 47.7% | 68.0% | 10 |
| 1980s | 38.4% | 32.2% | 45.3% | 10 |
| 1990s | 25.9% | 21.9% | 30.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 18.0% | 15.0% | 21.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 12.2% | 10.3% | 14.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 9.3% | 8.7% | 9.9% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Gabon
More population data for Gabon
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 3,757 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 1.78 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate 0.0336 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate 0.628 (2100)
- Population density 26.79 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 467,914 (2100)
- Population growth rate by level of development 0.628 (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 1.78 % change on previous year (2030)
- Fertility and wanted fertility, annual growth rate -1.51 % change on previous year (2024)
- Refugee population by country or territory of asylum, gaps filled 179 (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is rural population in Gabon?
- Rural population in Gabon was 8.7% in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest rural population recorded in Gabon?
- The highest recorded value was 68.0% in 1970.
- What is the lowest rural population recorded in Gabon?
- The lowest recorded value was 8.7% in 2024.
- How does Gabon rank for rural population?
- Gabon ranks 187th out of 214 countries with data for 2024.
- Is rural population rising or falling in Gabon?
- Over the last ten years it is down 29.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Gabon data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, 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
February 2026 Data Release