Share of population living in rural areas in Myanmar
Myanmar: Share of population living in rural areas was 30.6% in 2020. ▼ Falling
Share of population living in rural areas in Myanmar, 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 rural areas in Myanmar is 30.6%, measured in 2020. That is the lowest value across all 15 years on record.
The figure is down 2.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in rural areas in Myanmar peaked at 48.0% in 1950 and was at its lowest, 30.6%, in 2020.
Myanmar ranks 91st of 236 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 15 years of available data.
Share of population living in rural areas in Myanmar, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 48.0% | — |
| 1955 | 45.9% | -4.3% |
| 1960 | 43.7% | -5.0% |
| 1965 | 41.3% | -5.5% |
| 1970 | 38.8% | -5.9% |
| 1975 | 36.6% | -5.7% |
| 1980 | 36.7% | +0.1% |
| 1985 | 36.5% | -0.4% |
| 1990 | 35.9% | -1.6% |
| 1995 | 34.2% | -4.9% |
| 2000 | 32.5% | -5.0% |
| 2005 | 31.8% | -2.2% |
| 2010 | 31.3% | -1.6% |
| 2015 | 30.9% | -1.3% |
| 2020 | 30.6% | -0.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 47.0% | 45.9% | 48.0% | 2 |
| 1960s | 42.5% | 41.3% | 43.7% | 2 |
| 1970s | 37.7% | 36.6% | 38.8% | 2 |
| 1980s | 36.6% | 36.5% | 36.7% | 2 |
| 1990s | 35.1% | 34.2% | 35.9% | 2 |
| 2000s | 32.1% | 31.8% | 32.5% | 2 |
| 2010s | 31.1% | 30.9% | 31.3% | 2 |
| 2020s | 30.6% | 30.6% | 30.6% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Myanmar
More population data for Myanmar
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.5005 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -0.8844 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.5005 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.4448 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 59,929 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.5289 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.737 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth -0.5% (2100)
- Population density 76.09 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 2.45 million people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in rural areas in Myanmar?
- Share of population living in rural areas in Myanmar was 30.6% 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 rural areas recorded in Myanmar?
- The highest recorded value was 48.0% in 1950.
- What is the lowest share of population living in rural areas recorded in Myanmar?
- The lowest recorded value was 30.6% in 2020.
- How does Myanmar rank for share of population living in rural areas?
- Myanmar ranks 91st out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in rural areas rising or falling in Myanmar?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Myanmar 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 rural areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Estimated share of the population living in rural areas. Rural areas are identified using satellite imagery and population data, applying the same definitions across countries.