Rural population share — all countries

Rural population share — OECD

Rural population share in the OECD in 2025 — 18.7%. Since 1960, the indicator has fallen by 19.7 pp.

2025 18.7% −0.1 pp vs 2024
World rank
Period maximum 38.4%1960
Period minimum 18.7%2025

Trend over time

1960–2025 · % of population

Rural population share — OECD, 1960–202515202530354019601967197419811988199520022009201620231960: 38.4%1962: 37.4%1964: 36.2%1966: 35.1%1968: 34%1970: 33.1%1972: 32.3%1974: 31.5%1976: 30.9%1978: 30.4%1980: 29.9%1982: 29.4%1984: 28.8%1986: 28.3%1988: 27.8%1990: 27.2%1992: 26.7%1994: 26.1%1996: 25.5%1998: 24.9%2000: 24.4%2002: 23.7%2004: 22.9%2006: 22.2%2008: 21.7%2010: 21.2%2012: 20.8%2014: 20.1%2016: 19.6%2018: 19.5%2020: 19.3%2022: 19.1%2024: 18.8%2025: 18.7%
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: OECD

OECD 18.7%
World 42.2%
Rural population share — OECD, by year OECD All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 18.7 −0.1 pp
2024 18.8 −0.1 pp
2023 18.9 −0.1 pp
2022 19.1 −0.1 pp
2021 19.1 −0.1 pp
2020 19.3 −0.1 pp
2019 19.3 −0.1 pp
2018 19.5 −0.1 pp
2017 19.5 −0.1 pp
2016 19.6 −0.2 pp
2015 19.8 −0.3 pp
2014 20.1 −0.4 pp
2013 20.5 −0.4 pp
2012 20.8 −0.2 pp
2011 21.1 −0.2 pp
2010 21.2 −0.2 pp
2009 21.5 −0.2 pp
2008 21.7 −0.3 pp
2007 21.9 −0.3 pp
2006 22.2 −0.3 pp
2005 22.5 −0.4 pp
2004 22.9 −0.4 pp
2003 23.3 −0.4 pp
2002 23.7 −0.4 pp
2001 24.1 −0.3 pp
2000 24.4 −0.3 pp
1999 24.7 −0.3 pp
1998 24.9 −0.3 pp
1997 25.2 −0.3 pp
1996 25.5 −0.3 pp
1995 25.8 −0.3 pp
1994 26.1 −0.3 pp
1993 26.4 −0.3 pp
1992 26.7 −0.3 pp
1991 27 −0.3 pp
1990 27.2 −0.3 pp
1989 27.5 −0.3 pp
1988 27.8 −0.3 pp
1987 28 −0.3 pp
1986 28.3 −0.3 pp
1985 28.6 −0.3 pp
1984 28.8 −0.3 pp
1983 29.1 −0.3 pp
1982 29.4 −0.2 pp
1981 29.6 −0.3 pp
1980 29.9 −0.3 pp
1979 30.1 −0.2 pp
1978 30.4 −0.2 pp
1977 30.6 −0.3 pp
1976 30.9 −0.3 pp
1975 31.2 −0.3 pp
1974 31.5 −0.4 pp
1973 31.9 −0.4 pp
1972 32.3 −0.4 pp
1971 32.7 −0.4 pp
1970 33.1 −0.5 pp
1969 33.5 −0.5 pp
1968 34 −0.5 pp
1967 34.6 −0.5 pp
1966 35.1 −0.6 pp
1965 35.7 −0.6 pp
1964 36.2 −0.6 pp
1963 36.8 −0.5 pp
1962 37.4 −0.5 pp
1961 37.9 −0.5 pp
1960 38.4

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.