Sri Lanka—Rural Population (%)
Sri Lanka's rural population (%) was 79.7% in 2024, ranking #6 out of 217 countries. This represents a -0.2% change from 2023. Over the past 25 years, the highest recorded value was 85.4% (2001) and the lowest was 79.7% (2024). Data sourced from the World Bank World Development Indicators.
Historical Data
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 79.7% | -0.2% |
| 2023 | 79.9% | -0.2% |
| 2022 | 80.0% | -0.2% |
| 2021 | 80.2% | -0.2% |
| 2020 | 80.3% | -0.2% |
| 2019 | 80.5% | -0.2% |
| 2018 | 80.7% | -0.2% |
| 2017 | 80.8% | -0.2% |
| 2016 | 81.0% | -0.2% |
| 2015 | 81.2% | -0.2% |
| 2014 | 81.4% | -0.2% |
| 2013 | 81.6% | -0.2% |
| 2012 | 81.7% | -0.6% |
| 2011 | 82.2% | -0.7% |
| 2010 | 82.8% | -0.6% |
| 2009 | 83.3% | -0.6% |
| 2008 | 83.7% | -0.5% |
| 2007 | 84.1% | -0.4% |
| 2006 | 84.5% | -0.4% |
| 2005 | 84.8% | -0.3% |
| 2004 | 85.1% | -0.2% |
| 2003 | 85.3% | -0.1% |
| 2002 | 85.4% | -0.0% |
| 2001 | 85.4% | +0.1% |
| 2000 | 85.4% |
Top Countries — Rural Population (%)
| # | Country | Value | 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 |
About This Indicator
Definition
Rural population refers to people living in rural areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated as the difference between total population and urban population.
Methodology
Data compiled by World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN), uri: https://population.un.org/wup/, note: World Bank staff estimates based on the United Nations Population Division's World Urbanization Prospects, National definitions, publisher: UN Population Division; Staff estimates, World Bank (WB), note: World Bank staff estimates based on the United Nations Population Division's World Urbanization Prospects, National definitions.