Rural population share — all countries

Rural population share — High-income countries

Rural population share in high-income countries in 2025 — 19.7%. Since 1960, the indicator has fallen by 18.5 pp.

2025 19.7% −0.1 pp vs 2024
World rank
Period maximum 38.2%1960
Period minimum 19.7%2025

Trend over time

1960–2025 · % of population

Rural population share — High-income countries, 1960–202515202530354019601967197419811988199520022009201620231960: 38.2%1962: 37%1964: 35.8%1966: 34.5%1968: 33.3%1970: 32.3%1972: 31.4%1974: 30.4%1976: 29.7%1978: 29.2%1980: 28.6%1982: 28%1984: 27.5%1986: 27%1988: 26.4%1990: 25.9%1992: 25.6%1994: 25.1%1996: 24.7%1998: 24.2%2000: 23.8%2002: 23.2%2004: 22.5%2006: 21.9%2008: 21.5%2010: 21.1%2012: 20.9%2014: 20.7%2016: 20.5%2018: 20.3%2020: 20.2%2022: 20%2024: 19.8%2025: 19.7%
Change over the period: −18.5 pp Annual average: -0.28 pp

Comparison, 2025

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: High-income countries

High-income countries 19.7%
World 42.2%
Rural population share — High-income countries, by year High-income countries All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 19.7 −0.1 pp
2024 19.8 −0.1 pp
2023 19.9 −0.1 pp
2022 20 −0.1 pp
2021 20.1 −0.1 pp
2020 20.2 −0.1 pp
2019 20.3 −0.1 pp
2018 20.3 −0.1 pp
2017 20.4 −0.1 pp
2016 20.5 −0.1 pp
2015 20.6 −0.1 pp
2014 20.7 −0.1 pp
2013 20.8 −0.1 pp
2012 20.9 −0.1 pp
2011 21 −0.1 pp
2010 21.1 −0.2 pp
2009 21.3 −0.2 pp
2008 21.5 −0.2 pp
2007 21.7 −0.3 pp
2006 21.9 −0.3 pp
2005 22.2 −0.3 pp
2004 22.5 −0.3 pp
2003 22.9 −0.4 pp
2002 23.2 −0.3 pp
2001 23.5 −0.3 pp
2000 23.8 −0.2 pp
1999 24 −0.2 pp
1998 24.2 −0.2 pp
1997 24.4 −0.3 pp
1996 24.7 −0.3 pp
1995 24.9 −0.2 pp
1994 25.1 −0.2 pp
1993 25.4 −0.2 pp
1992 25.6 −0.2 pp
1991 25.7 −0.2 pp
1990 25.9 −0.2 pp
1989 26.2 −0.3 pp
1988 26.4 −0.3 pp
1987 26.7 −0.3 pp
1986 27 −0.3 pp
1985 27.3 −0.3 pp
1984 27.5 −0.3 pp
1983 27.8 −0.3 pp
1982 28 −0.3 pp
1981 28.3 −0.3 pp
1980 28.6 −0.3 pp
1979 28.9 −0.3 pp
1978 29.2 −0.3 pp
1977 29.4 −0.3 pp
1976 29.7 −0.3 pp
1975 30.1 −0.4 pp
1974 30.4 −0.4 pp
1973 30.9 −0.5 pp
1972 31.4 −0.5 pp
1971 31.8 −0.5 pp
1970 32.3 −0.5 pp
1969 32.8 −0.6 pp
1968 33.3 −0.6 pp
1967 33.9 −0.6 pp
1966 34.5 −0.6 pp
1965 35.1 −0.6 pp
1964 35.8 −0.6 pp
1963 36.4 −0.6 pp
1962 37 −0.6 pp
1961 37.6 −0.6 pp
1960 38.2

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.