Share of population living in rural areas in Pakistan
Pakistan: Share of population living in rural areas was 12.0% in 2020. ▼ Falling
Share of population living in rural areas in Pakistan, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2020, share of population living in rural areas in Pakistan stood at 12.0%. That is the lowest value across all 15 years on record.
That represents a change of down 25.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in rural areas in Pakistan peaked at 60.7% in 1950 and was at its lowest, 12.0%, in 2020.
Pakistan ranks 198th of 236 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 15 years of available data.
Share of population living in rural areas in Pakistan, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 60.7% | — |
| 1955 | 57.5% | -5.2% |
| 1960 | 53.8% | -6.5% |
| 1965 | 49.9% | -7.1% |
| 1970 | 45.9% | -8.1% |
| 1975 | 41.9% | -8.8% |
| 1980 | 38.7% | -7.6% |
| 1985 | 34.3% | -11.3% |
| 1990 | 29.1% | -15.2% |
| 1995 | 25.1% | -13.8% |
| 2000 | 21.4% | -14.6% |
| 2005 | 18.8% | -12.3% |
| 2010 | 16.2% | -13.7% |
| 2015 | 14.3% | -11.4% |
| 2020 | 12.0% | -16.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 59.1% | 57.5% | 60.7% | 2 |
| 1960s | 51.8% | 49.9% | 53.8% | 2 |
| 1970s | 43.9% | 41.9% | 45.9% | 2 |
| 1980s | 36.5% | 34.3% | 38.7% | 2 |
| 1990s | 27.1% | 25.1% | 29.1% | 2 |
| 2000s | 20.1% | 18.8% | 21.4% | 2 |
| 2010s | 15.3% | 14.3% | 16.2% | 2 |
| 2020s | 12.0% | 12.0% | 12.0% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Pakistan
- 195 Saint Barthelemy 12.8% compare
- 196 Trinidad and Tobago 12.6% compare
- 197 Iraq 12.5% compare
- 199 Reunion 11.7% compare
- 200 Venezuela 11.5% compare
- 201 Equatorial Guinea 10.5% compare
More population data for Pakistan
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.1692 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate 0.7801 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.1692 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.1091 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 367,808 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 1.8 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.5037 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth 0.2% (2100)
- Population density 662.88 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 32.24 million people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in rural areas in Pakistan?
- Share of population living in rural areas in Pakistan was 12.0% 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 rural areas recorded in Pakistan?
- The highest recorded value was 60.7% in 1950.
- What is the lowest share of population living in rural areas recorded in Pakistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 12.0% in 2020.
- How does Pakistan rank for share of population living in rural areas?
- Pakistan ranks 198th out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in rural areas rising or falling in Pakistan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 25.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Pakistan 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.