Countries with the Most Rural Population (2026) (2025)
Source: World Bank·25 countries·Updated 2025
Highly rural countries depend on agriculture and face urbanization pressures. {#1} has {#1_value} rural population.
Liechtenstein leads with rural population (%) of 85.4%.
Papua New Guinea ranks #2 at 84.2%.
Samoa ranks #3 at 82.5%.
Malawi ranks #4 at 82.4%.
Niger ranks #5 at 81.6%.
Top 25 Countries by Rural Population (%)
| # | Country | Rural Population (%) | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Liechtenstein | 85.4% | 2025 |
| 2 |  Papua New Guinea | 84.2% | 2025 |
| 3 |  Samoa | 82.5% | 2025 |
| 4 |  Malawi | 82.4% | 2025 |
| 5 |  Niger | 81.6% | 2025 |
| 6 |  Sri Lanka | 79.5% | 2025 |
| 7 |  Tonga | 78.8% | 2025 |
| 8 |  South Sudan | 78.3% | 2025 |
| 9 |  Vanuatu | 77.7% | 2025 |
| 10 |  Micronesia, Fed. Sts. | 77.5% | 2025 |
| 11 |  Ethiopia | 75.9% | 2025 |
| 12 |  Antigua and Barbuda | 75.7% | 2025 |
| 13 |  Burundi | 74.3% | 2025 |
| 14 |  Afghanistan | 74.1% | 2025 |
| 15 |  Tajikistan | 73.8% | 2025 |
| 16 |  Guyana | 73.5% | 2025 |
| 17 |  Eswatini | 73.3% | 2025 |
| 18 |  Chad | 72.4% | 2025 |
| 19 |  Timor-Leste | 71.2% | 2025 |
| 20 |  Burkina Faso | 71.1% | 2025 |
| 21 |  St. Lucia | 70.9% | 2025 |
| 22 |  Myanmar | 69.4% | 2025 |
| 23 |  Rwanda | 69.1% | 2025 |
| 24 |  Solomon Islands | 68.7% | 2025 |
| 25 |  St. Kitts and Nevis | 68.1% | 2025 |
Data from 217 countries is available. View full rankings →
FAQ
What is the highest rural population (%) in 2025?
Liechtenstein has the highest rural population (%) at 85.4% in 2025.
How many countries are included in this ranking?
This article features the top 25 countries out of 217 with available data. Full rankings available on the indicator page.
Where does this data come from?
Data is sourced from the World Bank. It is updated regularly as new releases become available.