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Malawi: Rural population (% of total population)

In , Malawi's Rural population (% of total population) was 82.73.

That's down 0.4% from 2023, the highest value since .

The global average for this indicator in 2024 was 37.13 . Malawi ranks #3 globally out of 217 reporting countries. Within Sub-Saharan Africa, it ranks #1 of 48.

Source: World Bank Open Data (SP.RUR.TOTL.ZS) • Data as of 2024

Trend (2005–2024)

Malawi Rural population (% of total population) trend 2020: COVID-19 pandemic
  • 2020 · COVID-19 pandemic

Highlights

Peak
84.90
Trough
82.73
1-year change
-0.4%
5-year change
-1.3%
-0.3% / yr
10-year change
-1.8%
-0.2% / yr

Historical Data — Last 10 Years

Year Rural population (% of total population)
82.7315
83.0251
83.2854
83.5118
83.7039
83.8616
83.9779
84.0366
84.1004
84.1662

About Rural population (% of total population)

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.

Indicator code: SP.RUR.TOTL.ZSCategory: Health & Population

Frequently asked questions

What was Malawi's Rural population (% of total population) in 2024?
In 2024, Malawi's Rural population (% of total population) was 82.73, according to World Bank Open Data.
Is Malawi's Rural population (% of total population) rising or falling?
Malawi's Rural population (% of total population) fell 0.4% from 2023 to 2024.
How does Malawi rank globally on Rural population (% of total population)?
In 2024, Malawi ranked #3 out of 217 countries reporting Rural population (% of total population).
How does Malawi's Rural population (% of total population) compare to the world average?
The global average for Rural population (% of total population) in 2024 was 37.13, so Malawi is above the world average. Within Sub-Saharan Africa, it ranks #1 of 48.
What is Rural population (% of total population) and how is it measured?
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.
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Source: World Bank Open Data (SP.RUR.TOTL.ZS), CC BY 4.0.