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Rural population share — all countries

Rural population share — Australia

Rural population share in Australia in 2025 — 12.3%. Ranked 177 in the world out of 217. Since 1960, the indicator has fallen by 6.1 pp.

2025 12.3% −0.1 pp vs 2024
World rank 177of 217
Period maximum 18.4%1960
Period minimum 12.3%2025

Trend over time

1960–2025 · % of population

Rural population share — Australia, 1960–2025121416182019601967197419811988199520022009201620231960: 18.4%1962: 17.8%1964: 17.3%1966: 16.8%1968: 15.8%1970: 14.7%1972: 14.3%1974: 14.1%1976: 14%1978: 14.1%1980: 14.2%1982: 14.4%1984: 14.6%1986: 14.6%1988: 14.6%1990: 14.6%1992: 14.6%1994: 14.7%1996: 14.8%1998: 14.8%2000: 14.9%2002: 14.7%2004: 14.5%2006: 14.3%2008: 14%2010: 13.8%2012: 13.6%2014: 13.3%2016: 13%2018: 12.8%2020: 12.7%2022: 12.7%2024: 12.4%2025: 12.3%
Change over the period: −6.1 pp Annual average: -0.09 pp

Comparison, 2025

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Australia

Australia 12.3%
World 42.2%
East Asia & Pacific 35.2%
Australia and New Zealand computed 12.9%
High-income countries computed 19.7%
Rural population share — Australia, by year Australia All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 12.3 −0.1 pp
2024 12.4 −0.1 pp
2023 12.5 −0.2 pp
2022 12.7 −0.1 pp
2021 12.8 +0 pp
2020 12.7 +0 pp
2019 12.7 −0.1 pp
2018 12.8 −0.1 pp
2017 12.9 −0.1 pp
2016 13 −0.1 pp
2015 13.1 −0.2 pp
2014 13.3 −0.1 pp
2013 13.4 −0.1 pp
2012 13.6 −0.1 pp
2011 13.7 −0.1 pp
2010 13.8 −0.1 pp
2009 13.9 −0.1 pp
2008 14 −0.1 pp
2007 14.1 −0.1 pp
2006 14.3 −0.1 pp
2005 14.4 −0.1 pp
2004 14.5 −0.1 pp
2003 14.6 −0.1 pp
2002 14.7 −0.1 pp
2001 14.9 −0 pp
2000 14.9 +0 pp
1999 14.9 +0 pp
1998 14.8 +0 pp
1997 14.8 +0 pp
1996 14.8 +0 pp
1995 14.7 +0 pp
1994 14.7 +0 pp
1993 14.6 +0 pp
1992 14.6 +0 pp
1991 14.6 −0 pp
1990 14.6 −0 pp
1989 14.6 −0 pp
1988 14.6 −0 pp
1987 14.6 −0 pp
1986 14.6 +0 pp
1985 14.6 +0.1 pp
1984 14.6 +0.1 pp
1983 14.5 +0.1 pp
1982 14.4 +0.1 pp
1981 14.3 +0.1 pp
1980 14.2 +0.1 pp
1979 14.1 +0.1 pp
1978 14.1 +0.1 pp
1977 14 +0 pp
1976 14 −0 pp
1975 14 −0.1 pp
1974 14.1 −0.1 pp
1973 14.2 −0.1 pp
1972 14.3 −0.1 pp
1971 14.4 −0.3 pp
1970 14.7 −0.5 pp
1969 15.2 −0.6 pp
1968 15.8 −0.6 pp
1967 16.4 −0.4 pp
1966 16.8 −0.3 pp
1965 17.1 −0.2 pp
1964 17.3 −0.2 pp
1963 17.5 −0.2 pp
1962 17.8 −0.3 pp
1961 18.1 −0.3 pp
1960 18.4 —

Australia and New Zealand, 2025

The same indicator for neighboring countries — with links to their pages

NZ New Zealand 16 AU Australia 12.3
Full table for all countries

About the indicator

The share of population living outside urban settlements, as a percent of the total. It is computed as the difference between total and urban population, and therefore inherits every particularity of national definitions of urban areas.

Source: World Population Prospects (UN), license CC BY 3.0 IGO.

Other indicators for Australia

Demography Rural population

How many people live outside cities — in absolute numbers.

Australia by year Demography Urban population share

What part of a country's residents lives in cities — the level of urbanization.

Australia by year Labor Employment in agriculture

The share of workers employed in agriculture, forestry and fishing.

Australia by year Agriculture Agricultural land share

What part of the territory is used for arable land, permanent crops and pasture.

Australia by year
All indicators for Australia