Share urban and rural population in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Share urban and rural population was 84.61 in 2025. ▲ Rising
Share urban and rural population in Saudi Arabia, 1950–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
Saudi Arabia recorded 84.61 for share urban and rural population in 2025. That is the highest value across all 76 years on record.
That represents a change of up 0.2% on the previous year and up 2.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share urban and rural population in Saudi Arabia peaked at 84.61 in 2025 and was at its lowest, 21.3, in 1950.
That places Saudi Arabia 57th out of 236 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 76 years of available data.
Share urban and rural population in Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 21.3 | — |
| 1951 | 22 | +3.3% |
| 1952 | 22.79 | +3.6% |
| 1953 | 23.65 | +3.8% |
| 1954 | 24.58 | +3.9% |
| 1955 | 25.58 | +4.1% |
| 1956 | 26.65 | +4.2% |
| 1957 | 27.77 | +4.2% |
| 1958 | 28.95 | +4.2% |
| 1959 | 30.17 | +4.2% |
| 1960 | 31.44 | +4.2% |
| 1961 | 32.75 | +4.2% |
| 1962 | 34.1 | +4.1% |
| 1963 | 35.56 | +4.3% |
| 1964 | 37.21 | +4.6% |
| 1965 | 39.01 | +4.8% |
| 1966 | 40.93 | +4.9% |
| 1967 | 42.94 | +4.9% |
| 1968 | 45 | +4.8% |
| 1969 | 47.09 | +4.6% |
| 1970 | 49.17 | +4.4% |
| 1971 | 51.22 | +4.2% |
| 1972 | 53.19 | +3.8% |
| 1973 | 55.05 | +3.5% |
| 1974 | 56.78 | +3.1% |
| 1975 | 58.41 | +2.9% |
| 1976 | 60.05 | +2.8% |
| 1977 | 61.69 | +2.7% |
| 1978 | 63.31 | +2.6% |
| 1979 | 64.89 | +2.5% |
| 1980 | 66.43 | +2.4% |
| 1981 | 67.91 | +2.2% |
| 1982 | 69.32 | +2.1% |
| 1983 | 70.63 | +1.9% |
| 1984 | 71.85 | +1.7% |
| 1985 | 72.94 | +1.5% |
| 1986 | 73.9 | +1.3% |
| 1987 | 74.77 | +1.2% |
| 1988 | 75.59 | +1.1% |
| 1989 | 76.34 | +1.0% |
| 1990 | 77.01 | +0.9% |
| 1991 | 77.57 | +0.7% |
| 1992 | 78 | +0.6% |
| 1993 | 78.34 | +0.4% |
| 1994 | 78.65 | +0.4% |
| 1995 | 78.92 | +0.3% |
| 1996 | 79.16 | +0.3% |
| 1997 | 79.39 | +0.3% |
| 1998 | 79.59 | +0.3% |
| 1999 | 79.78 | +0.2% |
| 2000 | 79.97 | +0.2% |
| 2001 | 80.16 | +0.2% |
| 2002 | 80.34 | +0.2% |
| 2003 | 80.54 | +0.2% |
| 2004 | 80.75 | +0.3% |
| 2005 | 80.98 | +0.3% |
| 2006 | 81.2 | +0.3% |
| 2007 | 81.42 | +0.3% |
| 2008 | 81.64 | +0.3% |
| 2009 | 81.86 | +0.3% |
| 2010 | 82.08 | +0.3% |
| 2011 | 82.25 | +0.2% |
| 2012 | 82.43 | +0.2% |
| 2013 | 82.61 | +0.2% |
| 2014 | 82.78 | +0.2% |
| 2015 | 82.96 | +0.2% |
| 2016 | 83.13 | +0.2% |
| 2017 | 83.3 | +0.2% |
| 2018 | 83.47 | +0.2% |
| 2019 | 83.64 | +0.2% |
| 2020 | 83.81 | +0.2% |
| 2021 | 83.97 | +0.2% |
| 2022 | 84.13 | +0.2% |
| 2023 | 84.3 | +0.2% |
| 2024 | 84.46 | +0.2% |
| 2025 | 84.61 | +0.2% |
Saudi Arabia compared with similar countries
- Saudi Arabia's 84.61 is above the median for high income countries, which is 81.33, 1.0× the median. (85 countries reporting)
- Saudi Arabia's 84.61 is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 79.48, 1.1× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 25.34 | 21.3 | 30.17 | 10 |
| 1960s | 38.61 | 31.44 | 47.09 | 10 |
| 1970s | 57.38 | 49.17 | 64.89 | 10 |
| 1980s | 71.97 | 66.43 | 76.34 | 10 |
| 1990s | 78.64 | 77.01 | 79.78 | 10 |
| 2000s | 80.89 | 79.97 | 81.86 | 10 |
| 2010s | 82.87 | 82.08 | 83.64 | 10 |
| 2020s | 84.21 | 83.81 | 84.61 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
- 54 United Arab Emirates 85.96 compare
- 55 Switzerland 85.73 compare
- 56 Peru 85.6 compare
- 58 New Zealand 84 compare
- 59 Norway 83.57 compare
- 60 United Kingdom 83.32 compare
More population data for Saudi Arabia
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.6339 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate 0.5774 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.6339 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.1019 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 48,374 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 1.2 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate 0.5868 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate 0.629 (2100)
- Population density 33.03 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 4.10 million (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share urban and rural population in Saudi Arabia?
- Share urban and rural population in Saudi Arabia was 84.61 in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share urban and rural population recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 84.61 in 2025.
- What is the lowest share urban and rural population recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 21.3 in 1950.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for share urban and rural population?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 57th out of 236 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share urban and rural population rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Share urban and rural population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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