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Rural population share — all countries

Rural population share — Belgium

Rural population share in Belgium in 2025 — 12.3%. Ranked 176 in the world out of 217. Since 1960, the indicator has fallen by 21.8 pp.

2025 12.3% −0.1 pp vs 2024
World rank 176of 217
Period maximum 34.1%1960
Period minimum 12.3%2025

Trend over time

1960–2025 · % of population

Rural population share — Belgium, 1960–20251020304019601967197419811988199520022009201620231960: 34.1%1962: 33.4%1964: 32.5%1966: 31.4%1968: 30.4%1970: 29.4%1972: 28.5%1974: 27.7%1976: 26.9%1978: 26.1%1980: 25.3%1982: 24.5%1984: 23.7%1986: 22.9%1988: 22.2%1990: 21.4%1992: 20.7%1994: 20%1996: 19.3%1998: 18.6%2000: 18%2002: 17.3%2004: 16.7%2006: 16.1%2008: 15.6%2010: 15%2012: 14.5%2014: 14%2016: 13.5%2018: 13.1%2020: 12.7%2022: 12.5%2024: 12.4%2025: 12.3%
Change over the period: −21.8 pp Annual average: -0.34 pp

Comparison, 2025

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

Belgium 12.3%
World 42.2%
Europe & Central Asia 25.9%
Western Europe computed 17.8%
High-income countries computed 19.7%
Rural population share — Belgium, by year Belgium All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 12.3 −0.1 pp
2024 12.4 −0.1 pp
2023 12.4 −0.1 pp
2022 12.5 −0.1 pp
2021 12.6 −0.1 pp
2020 12.7 −0.2 pp
2019 12.9 −0.2 pp
2018 13.1 −0.2 pp
2017 13.3 −0.2 pp
2016 13.5 −0.2 pp
2015 13.8 −0.2 pp
2014 14 −0.2 pp
2013 14.3 −0.3 pp
2012 14.5 −0.3 pp
2011 14.8 −0.3 pp
2010 15 −0.3 pp
2009 15.3 −0.3 pp
2008 15.6 −0.3 pp
2007 15.9 −0.3 pp
2006 16.1 −0.3 pp
2005 16.4 −0.3 pp
2004 16.7 −0.3 pp
2003 17 −0.3 pp
2002 17.3 −0.3 pp
2001 17.7 −0.3 pp
2000 18 −0.3 pp
1999 18.3 −0.3 pp
1998 18.6 −0.3 pp
1997 19 −0.3 pp
1996 19.3 −0.3 pp
1995 19.7 −0.3 pp
1994 20 −0.4 pp
1993 20.4 −0.4 pp
1992 20.7 −0.4 pp
1991 21.1 −0.4 pp
1990 21.4 −0.4 pp
1989 21.8 −0.4 pp
1988 22.2 −0.4 pp
1987 22.6 −0.4 pp
1986 22.9 −0.4 pp
1985 23.3 −0.4 pp
1984 23.7 −0.4 pp
1983 24.1 −0.4 pp
1982 24.5 −0.4 pp
1981 24.9 −0.4 pp
1980 25.3 −0.4 pp
1979 25.7 −0.4 pp
1978 26.1 −0.4 pp
1977 26.5 −0.4 pp
1976 26.9 −0.4 pp
1975 27.3 −0.4 pp
1974 27.7 −0.4 pp
1973 28.1 −0.4 pp
1972 28.5 −0.4 pp
1971 28.9 −0.4 pp
1970 29.4 −0.5 pp
1969 29.8 −0.5 pp
1968 30.4 −0.5 pp
1967 30.9 −0.6 pp
1966 31.4 −0.5 pp
1965 32 −0.5 pp
1964 32.5 −0.5 pp
1963 33 −0.4 pp
1962 33.4 −0.4 pp
1961 33.8 −0.4 pp
1960 34.1 —

Western Europe, 2025

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

LI Liechtenstein 85.4 AT Austria 30.3 FR France 21.2 DE Germany 17.9 CH Switzerland 14.3 BE Belgium 12.3 LU Luxembourg 5.1 NL Netherlands 4.1
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 Belgium

Demography Rural population

How many people live outside cities — in absolute numbers.

Belgium by year Demography Urban population share

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

Belgium by year Labor Employment in agriculture

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

Belgium by year Agriculture Agricultural land share

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

Belgium by year
All indicators for Belgium