Rural population share — all countries

Rural population share — Ireland

Rural population share in Ireland in 2025 — 35.4%. Ranked 110 in the world out of 217. Since 1960, the indicator has fallen by 19.7 pp.

2025 35.4% −0.2 pp vs 2024
World rank 110of 217
Period maximum 55.1%1960
Period minimum 35.4%2025

Trend over time

1960–2025 · % of population

Rural population share — Ireland, 1960–202535404550556019601967197419811988199520022009201620231960: 55.1%1962: 53.9%1964: 52.2%1966: 50.7%1968: 49.3%1970: 48.2%1972: 47.2%1974: 46.4%1976: 45.7%1978: 45.1%1980: 44.6%1982: 44.2%1984: 43.9%1986: 43.6%1988: 43.3%1990: 43.1%1992: 42.8%1994: 42.3%1996: 41.8%1998: 41.4%2000: 40.9%2002: 40.4%2004: 39.8%2006: 39.2%2008: 38.6%2010: 38.1%2012: 37.7%2014: 37.5%2016: 37.3%2018: 36.9%2020: 36.5%2022: 36.1%2024: 35.7%2025: 35.4%
Change over the period: −19.7 pp Annual average: -0.3 pp

Comparison, 2025

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

Ireland 35.4%
World 42.2%
Northern Europe computed 18.1%
High-income countries computed 19.7%
Rural population share — Ireland, by year Ireland All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 35.4 −0.2 pp
2024 35.7 −0.2 pp
2023 35.9 −0.2 pp
2022 36.1 −0.2 pp
2021 36.3 −0.2 pp
2020 36.5 −0.2 pp
2019 36.7 −0.2 pp
2018 36.9 −0.2 pp
2017 37.1 −0.2 pp
2016 37.3 −0.1 pp
2015 37.4 −0.1 pp
2014 37.5 −0.1 pp
2013 37.6 −0.2 pp
2012 37.7 −0.2 pp
2011 37.9 −0.2 pp
2010 38.1 −0.2 pp
2009 38.4 −0.3 pp
2008 38.6 −0.3 pp
2007 38.9 −0.3 pp
2006 39.2 −0.3 pp
2005 39.5 −0.3 pp
2004 39.8 −0.3 pp
2003 40.1 −0.3 pp
2002 40.4 −0.3 pp
2001 40.6 −0.3 pp
2000 40.9 −0.2 pp
1999 41.1 −0.2 pp
1998 41.4 −0.2 pp
1997 41.6 −0.2 pp
1996 41.8 −0.2 pp
1995 42.1 −0.2 pp
1994 42.3 −0.2 pp
1993 42.5 −0.2 pp
1992 42.8 −0.2 pp
1991 42.9 −0.2 pp
1990 43.1 −0.1 pp
1989 43.2 −0.1 pp
1988 43.3 −0.1 pp
1987 43.4 −0.1 pp
1986 43.6 −0.1 pp
1985 43.7 −0.1 pp
1984 43.9 −0.1 pp
1983 44 −0.2 pp
1982 44.2 −0.2 pp
1981 44.3 −0.2 pp
1980 44.6 −0.2 pp
1979 44.8 −0.3 pp
1978 45.1 −0.3 pp
1977 45.4 −0.3 pp
1976 45.7 −0.4 pp
1975 46.1 −0.4 pp
1974 46.4 −0.4 pp
1973 46.8 −0.4 pp
1972 47.2 −0.4 pp
1971 47.7 −0.5 pp
1970 48.2 −0.6 pp
1969 48.7 −0.6 pp
1968 49.3 −0.7 pp
1967 50 −0.7 pp
1966 50.7 −0.7 pp
1965 51.4 −0.8 pp
1964 52.2 −0.9 pp
1963 53.1 −0.8 pp
1962 53.9 −0.7 pp
1961 54.6 −0.5 pp
1960 55.1

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.