Rural population share — all countries

Rural population share — Europe & Central Asia

Rural population share in Europe & Central Asia in 2025 — 25.9%. Since 1960, the indicator has fallen by 19.1 pp.

2025 25.9% −0.1 pp vs 2024
World rank
Period maximum 45%1960
Period minimum 25.9%2025

Trend over time

1960–2025 · % of population

Rural population share — Europe & Central Asia, 1960–202525303540455019601967197419811988199520022009201620231960: 45%1962: 44%1964: 42.8%1966: 41.6%1968: 40.4%1970: 39.4%1972: 38.4%1974: 37.4%1976: 36.5%1978: 35.8%1980: 35.1%1982: 34.5%1984: 34%1986: 33.5%1988: 33%1990: 32.6%1992: 32.5%1994: 32.3%1996: 32%1998: 31.7%2000: 31.3%2002: 30.9%2004: 30.6%2006: 30.2%2008: 29.8%2010: 29.4%2012: 28.8%2014: 27.8%2016: 27.1%2018: 26.8%2020: 26.5%2022: 26.3%2024: 26%2025: 25.9%
Change over the period: −19.1 pp Annual average: -0.29 pp

Comparison, 2025

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Europe & Central Asia

Europe & Central Asia 25.9%
World 42.2%
Rural population share — Europe & Central Asia, by year Europe & Central Asia All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 25.9 −0.1 pp
2024 26 −0.1 pp
2023 26.2 −0.1 pp
2022 26.3 −0.1 pp
2021 26.4 −0.1 pp
2020 26.5 −0.1 pp
2019 26.6 −0.2 pp
2018 26.8 −0.1 pp
2017 27 −0.1 pp
2016 27.1 −0.2 pp
2015 27.3 −0.4 pp
2014 27.8 −0.6 pp
2013 28.3 −0.5 pp
2012 28.8 −0.3 pp
2011 29.2 −0.2 pp
2010 29.4 −0.2 pp
2009 29.6 −0.2 pp
2008 29.8 −0.2 pp
2007 30 −0.2 pp
2006 30.2 −0.2 pp
2005 30.4 −0.2 pp
2004 30.6 −0.2 pp
2003 30.8 −0.2 pp
2002 30.9 −0.2 pp
2001 31.1 −0.2 pp
2000 31.3 −0.2 pp
1999 31.6 −0.1 pp
1998 31.7 −0.2 pp
1997 31.8 −0.2 pp
1996 32 −0.2 pp
1995 32.2 −0.1 pp
1994 32.3 −0.1 pp
1993 32.4 −0.1 pp
1992 32.5 −0.1 pp
1991 32.5 −0.1 pp
1990 32.6 −0.1 pp
1989 32.8 −0.2 pp
1988 33 −0.2 pp
1987 33.3 −0.3 pp
1986 33.5 −0.3 pp
1985 33.8 −0.2 pp
1984 34 −0.3 pp
1983 34.3 −0.3 pp
1982 34.5 −0.3 pp
1981 34.8 −0.3 pp
1980 35.1 −0.4 pp
1979 35.5 −0.3 pp
1978 35.8 −0.3 pp
1977 36.2 −0.4 pp
1976 36.5 −0.4 pp
1975 37 −0.4 pp
1974 37.4 −0.5 pp
1973 37.9 −0.5 pp
1972 38.4 −0.5 pp
1971 38.9 −0.5 pp
1970 39.4 −0.5 pp
1969 39.9 −0.6 pp
1968 40.4 −0.6 pp
1967 41 −0.6 pp
1966 41.6 −0.6 pp
1965 42.2 −0.6 pp
1964 42.8 −0.6 pp
1963 43.4 −0.6 pp
1962 44 −0.5 pp
1961 44.5 −0.6 pp
1960 45

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.