Rural population share — all countries

Rural population share — European Union

Rural population share in the European Union in 2025 — 24.8%. Since 1960, the indicator has fallen by 16.7 pp.

2025 24.8% −0.1 pp vs 2024
World rank
Period maximum 41.6%1960
Period minimum 24.8%2025

Trend over time

1960–2025 · % of population

Rural population share — European Union, 1960–202520253035404519601967197419811988199520022009201620231960: 41.6%1962: 40.4%1964: 39%1966: 37.6%1968: 36.4%1970: 35.4%1972: 34.5%1974: 33.7%1976: 33.1%1978: 32.5%1980: 31.9%1982: 31.4%1984: 31%1986: 30.6%1988: 30.2%1990: 29.9%1992: 29.7%1994: 29.4%1996: 29.1%1998: 28.8%2000: 28.5%2002: 28.1%2004: 27.8%2006: 27.4%2008: 27.2%2010: 26.9%2012: 26.6%2014: 26.3%2016: 25.9%2018: 25.7%2020: 25.5%2022: 25.2%2024: 25%2025: 24.8%
Change over the period: −16.7 pp Annual average: -0.26 pp

Comparison, 2025

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

European Union 24.8%
World 42.2%
Rural population share — European Union, by year European Union All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 24.8 −0.1 pp
2024 25 −0.1 pp
2023 25.1 −0.1 pp
2022 25.2 −0.1 pp
2021 25.4 −0.1 pp
2020 25.5 −0.1 pp
2019 25.5 −0.1 pp
2018 25.7 −0.1 pp
2017 25.8 −0.1 pp
2016 25.9 −0.2 pp
2015 26.1 −0.2 pp
2014 26.3 −0.2 pp
2013 26.5 −0.2 pp
2012 26.6 −0.1 pp
2011 26.8 −0.1 pp
2010 26.9 −0.2 pp
2009 27.1 −0.1 pp
2008 27.2 −0.1 pp
2007 27.3 −0.1 pp
2006 27.4 −0.2 pp
2005 27.6 −0.2 pp
2004 27.8 −0.1 pp
2003 27.9 −0.1 pp
2002 28.1 −0.2 pp
2001 28.2 −0.2 pp
2000 28.5 −0.2 pp
1999 28.7 −0.1 pp
1998 28.8 −0.1 pp
1997 28.9 −0.2 pp
1996 29.1 −0.2 pp
1995 29.3 −0.1 pp
1994 29.4 −0.1 pp
1993 29.6 −0.1 pp
1992 29.7 −0.1 pp
1991 29.8 −0.1 pp
1990 29.9 −0.1 pp
1989 30.1 −0.2 pp
1988 30.2 −0.2 pp
1987 30.4 −0.2 pp
1986 30.6 −0.2 pp
1985 30.8 −0.2 pp
1984 31 −0.2 pp
1983 31.2 −0.2 pp
1982 31.4 −0.2 pp
1981 31.6 −0.3 pp
1980 31.9 −0.4 pp
1979 32.3 −0.3 pp
1978 32.5 −0.2 pp
1977 32.8 −0.3 pp
1976 33.1 −0.3 pp
1975 33.4 −0.3 pp
1974 33.7 −0.4 pp
1973 34.1 −0.4 pp
1972 34.5 −0.4 pp
1971 34.9 −0.5 pp
1970 35.4 −0.5 pp
1969 35.9 −0.5 pp
1968 36.4 −0.6 pp
1967 37 −0.6 pp
1966 37.6 −0.7 pp
1965 38.3 −0.7 pp
1964 39 −0.7 pp
1963 39.8 −0.6 pp
1962 40.4 −0.6 pp
1961 41 −0.6 pp
1960 41.6

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.