Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Qatar
Qatar: Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas was 79.0% in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Qatar, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Qatar recorded 79.0% for share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in 2020.
That represents a change of up 14.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Qatar peaked at 80.4% in 2015 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1950.
That places Qatar 12th out of 236 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Qatar, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 0.0% | — |
| 1955 | 0.0% | — |
| 1960 | 0.0% | — |
| 1965 | 0.0% | — |
| 1970 | 0.0% | — |
| 1975 | 0.0% | — |
| 1980 | 0.0% | — |
| 1985 | 22.0% | — |
| 1990 | 21.5% | -2.3% |
| 1995 | 20.1% | -6.5% |
| 2000 | 46.5% | +131.5% |
| 2005 | 56.2% | +20.7% |
| 2010 | 68.9% | +22.7% |
| 2015 | 80.4% | +16.6% |
| 2020 | 79.0% | -1.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 2 |
| 1960s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 2 |
| 1970s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 2 |
| 1980s | 11.0% | 0.0% | 22.0% | 2 |
| 1990s | 20.8% | 20.1% | 21.5% | 2 |
| 2000s | 51.3% | 46.5% | 56.2% | 2 |
| 2010s | 74.6% | 68.9% | 80.4% | 2 |
| 2020s | 79.0% | 79.0% | 79.0% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Qatar
- 9 Congo 84.7% compare
- 10 Equatorial Guinea 83.8% compare
- 11 Djibouti 80.9% compare
- 13 Taiwan, China 77.9% compare
- 14 Republic of Korea 75.4% compare
- 15 United Arab Emirates 73.3% compare
More population data for Qatar
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.6093 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 1.01 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -0.1246 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 1.01 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development 1.0% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 461,134 people (2100)
- Population density 632.92 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth 1.0% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate 0.9698 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.696 Percent per annum (2030)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Qatar?
- Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Qatar was 79.0% 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 Qatar?
- The highest recorded value was 80.4% in 2015.
- What is the lowest share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas recorded in Qatar?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1950.
- How does Qatar rank for share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas?
- Qatar ranks 12th out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas rising or falling in Qatar?
- Over the last ten years it is up 14.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Qatar 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.