Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Lebanon
Lebanon: Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas was 50.5% in 2020. ▲ Rising
Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Lebanon, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Lebanon is 50.5%, measured in 2020.
The figure is down 0.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Lebanon peaked at 67.7% in 1980 and was at its lowest, 35.7%, in 1950.
That places Lebanon 55th out of 236 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 15 years of available data.
Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Lebanon, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 35.7% | — |
| 1955 | 40.4% | +13.3% |
| 1960 | 44.2% | +9.4% |
| 1965 | 48.0% | +8.5% |
| 1970 | 53.0% | +10.6% |
| 1975 | 67.5% | +27.3% |
| 1980 | 67.7% | +0.3% |
| 1985 | 60.6% | -10.5% |
| 1990 | 48.4% | -20.2% |
| 1995 | 46.4% | -4.0% |
| 2000 | 47.9% | +3.2% |
| 2005 | 49.7% | +3.7% |
| 2010 | 50.8% | +2.1% |
| 2015 | 49.7% | -2.1% |
| 2020 | 50.5% | +1.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 38.0% | 35.7% | 40.4% | 2 |
| 1960s | 46.1% | 44.2% | 48.0% | 2 |
| 1970s | 60.3% | 53.0% | 67.5% | 2 |
| 1980s | 64.2% | 60.6% | 67.7% | 2 |
| 1990s | 47.4% | 46.4% | 48.4% | 2 |
| 2000s | 48.8% | 47.9% | 49.7% | 2 |
| 2010s | 50.2% | 49.7% | 50.8% | 2 |
| 2020s | 50.5% | 50.5% | 50.5% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Lebanon
More population data for Lebanon
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.3208 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate 0.2181 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.3208 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.4769 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 4,938 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population -1.03 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.5028 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth -0.3% (2100)
- Population density 703.09 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 333,428 people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Lebanon?
- Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Lebanon was 50.5% in 2020, according to European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas recorded in Lebanon?
- The highest recorded value was 67.7% in 1980.
- What is the lowest share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas recorded in Lebanon?
- The lowest recorded value was 35.7% in 1950.
- How does Lebanon rank for share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas?
- Lebanon ranks 55th out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas rising or falling in Lebanon?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Lebanon data come from?
- The figures come from European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Estimated share of the population living in cities. Cities are identified using satellite imagery and population data, applying the same definitions across countries.