The lowest rural population rates are found in some of the smallest countries in the world and city-states and areas, such as Gibraltar, Monaco, and Singapore, where the whole population lives in urban areas. Apart from these, Qatar is the country with the lowest rural population rate in the world. There, less than one percent of the population lives in rural areas. Belgium follows behind Qatar with less than two percent living in rural areas. On the other hand, Papua New Guinea has the largest rural population in the world.

In 2023, Washington, D.C. had the highest population density in the United States, with 11,130.69 people per square mile. As a whole, there were about 94.83 residents per square mile in the U.S., and Alaska was the state with the lowest population density, with 1.29 residents per square mile. The problem of population density Simply put, population density is the population of a country divided by the area of the country. While this can be an interesting measure of how many people live in a country and how large the country is, it does not account for the degree of urbanization, or the share of people who live in urban centers. For example, Russia is the largest country in the world and has a comparatively low population, so its population density is very low. However, much of the country is uninhabited, so cities in Russia are much more densely populated than the rest of the country. Urbanization in the United States While the United States is not very densely populated compared to other countries, its population density has increased significantly over the past few decades. The degree of urbanization has also increased, and well over half of the population lives in urban centers.

Graph and download economic data for Population, Total for Low Income Countries (SPPOPTOTLLIC) from 1960 to 2024 about income and population.

The average for 2023 based on 196 countries was 0.51 percent. The highest value was in India: 17.91 percent and the lowest value was in Andorra: 0 percent. The indicator is available from 1960 to 2023. Below is a chart for all countries where data are available.

Monaco led the ranking for countries with the highest population density in 2024, with nearly 26,000 residents per square kilometer. The Special Administrative Region of Macao came in second, followed by Singapore. The world’s second smallest country Monaco is the world’s second-smallest country, with an area of about two square kilometers and a population of only around 40,000. It is a constitutional monarchy located by the Mediterranean Sea, and while Monaco is not part of the European Union, it does participate in some EU policies. The country is perhaps most famous for the Monte Carlo casino and for hosting the Monaco Grand Prix, the world's most prestigious Formula One race. The global population Globally, the population density per square kilometer is about 60 inhabitants, and Asia is the most densely populated region in the world. The global population is increasing rapidly, so population density is only expected to increase. In 1950, for example, the global population stood at about 2.54 billion people, and it reached over eight billion during 2023.

Graph and download economic data for Population, Total for Low and Middle Income Countries (SPPOPTOTLLMY) from 1960 to 2024 about income and population.

The average for 2023 based on 196 countries was 40.69 million. The highest value was in India: 1428.63 million and the lowest value was in Tuvalu: 0.01 million. The indicator is available from 1960 to 2023. Below is a chart for all countries where data are available.

Graph and download economic data for Population Growth for Low Income Countries (SPPOPGROWLIC) from 1961 to 2023 about income, population, and rate.

A dataset detailing the top 10 countries with the lowest population density, including their respective population densities and contributing geographical factors.

In 2022, India overtook China as the world's most populous country and now has almost 1.46 billion people. China now has the second-largest population in the world, still with just over 1.4 billion inhabitants, however, its population went into decline in 2023. Global population As of 2025, the world's population stands at almost 8.2 billion people and is expected to reach around 10.3 billion people in the 2080s, when it will then go into decline. Due to improved healthcare, sanitation, and general living conditions, the global population continues to increase; mortality rates (particularly among infants and children) are decreasing and the median age of the world population has steadily increased for decades. As for the average life expectancy in industrial and developing countries, the gap has narrowed significantly since the mid-20th century. Asia is the most populous continent on Earth; 11 of the 20 largest countries are located there. It leads the ranking of the global population by continent by far, reporting four times as many inhabitants as Africa. The Demographic Transition The population explosion over the past two centuries is part of a phenomenon known as the demographic transition. Simply put, this transition results from a drastic reduction in mortality, which then leads to a reduction in fertility, and increase in life expectancy; this interim period where death rates are low and birth rates are high is where this population explosion occurs, and population growth can remain high as the population ages. In today's most-developed countries, the transition generally began with industrialization in the 1800s, and growth has now stabilized as birth and mortality rates have re-balanced. Across less-developed countries, the stage of this transition varies; for example, China is at a later stage than India, which accounts for the change in which country is more populous - understanding the demographic transition can help understand the reason why China's population is now going into decline. The least-developed region is Sub-Saharan Africa, where fertility rates remain close to pre-industrial levels in some countries. As these countries transition, they will undergo significant rates of population growth

Graph and download economic data for Refugee Population by Country or Territory of Asylum for Low Income Countries (SMPOPREFGLIC) from 1990 to 2023 about refugee, World, income, and population.

Graph and download economic data for Population Growth for Low and Middle Income Countries (SPPOPGROWLMY) from 1961 to 2024 about income, population, and rate.

The average for 2023 based on 196 countries was 26.11 percent. The highest value was in the Central African Republic: 49.17 percent and the lowest value was in Hong Kong: 10.7 percent. The indicator is available from 1960 to 2023. Below is a chart for all countries where data are available.

This statistic shows the countries with the lowest projected median age in 2050. By 2050, Niger is projected to have the population with the lowest median age at 19 years old.

Graph and download economic data for Population Ages 15 to 64 for Low and Middle Income Countries (SPPOP1564TOZSLMY) from 1960 to 2024 about 15 to 64 years, income, and population.

Graph and download economic data for Age Dependency Ratio: Older Dependents to Working-Age Population for Low and Middle Income Countries (SPPOPDPNDOLLMY) from 1960 to 2024 about working-age, ratio, income, and population.

The average for 2021 based on 12 countries was 25 people per square km. The highest value was in Ecuador: 72 people per square km and the lowest value was in Guyana: 4 people per square km. The indicator is available from 1961 to 2021. Below is a chart for all countries where data are available.

Population Ages 0 to 14 for Low and Middle Income Countries was 26.97668 % of Total in January of 2023, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, Population Ages 0 to 14 for Low and Middle Income Countries reached a record high of 41.14389 in January of 1966 and a record low of 26.97668 in January of 2023. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for Population Ages 0 to 14 for Low and Middle Income Countries - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on July of 2025.

In the Central African Republic and Chad, only six percent of the population has access to safely managed drinking water, making them the countries in the world where the lowest share of the population has access to clean drinking water. A high number of the countries on the list are located in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Vietnam GSO Projection: Population: Var: Low: Whole Country data was reported at 104,669.000 Person th in 2049. This records a decrease from the previous number of 104,671.000 Person th for 2048. Vietnam GSO Projection: Population: Var: Low: Whole Country data is updated yearly, averaging 102,265.000 Person th from Dec 2014 (Median) to 2049, with 36 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 104,671.000 Person th in 2048 and a record low of 90,493.000 Person th in 2014. Vietnam GSO Projection: Population: Var: Low: Whole Country data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by General Statistics Office. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Vietnam – Table VN.G002: Population: Projection: General Statistics Office.