Rural population share — all countries

Rural population share — South America

Rural population share in South America in 2025 — 14.5%. Since 1960, the indicator has fallen by 34.4 pp.

2025 14.5% −0.2 pp vs 2024
World rank
Period maximum 48.9%1960
Period minimum 14.5%2025

Trend over time

1960–2025 · % of population

Rural population share — South America, 1960–2025020406019601967197419811988199520022009201620231960: 48.9%1962: 47.5%1964: 46%1966: 44.4%1968: 42.8%1970: 41.2%1972: 39.3%1974: 37.2%1976: 35.1%1978: 33.1%1980: 31.3%1982: 29.9%1984: 28.7%1986: 27.5%1988: 26.4%1990: 25.3%1992: 24.3%1994: 23.4%1996: 22.4%1998: 21.3%2000: 20.3%2002: 19.6%2004: 19%2006: 18.5%2008: 18.1%2010: 17.6%2012: 17.2%2014: 16.7%2016: 16.3%2018: 15.9%2020: 15.6%2022: 15.2%2024: 14.7%2025: 14.5%
Change over the period: −34.4 pp Annual average: -0.53 pp

Comparison, 2025

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

South America 14.5%
World 42.2%
Rural population share — South America, by year South America All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 14.5 −0.2 pp
2024 14.7 −0.2 pp
2023 15 −0.2 pp
2022 15.2 −0.2 pp
2021 15.4 −0.2 pp
2020 15.6 −0.2 pp
2019 15.7 −0.2 pp
2018 15.9 −0.2 pp
2017 16.1 −0.2 pp
2016 16.3 −0.2 pp
2015 16.5 −0.2 pp
2014 16.7 −0.2 pp
2013 17 −0.2 pp
2012 17.2 −0.2 pp
2011 17.4 −0.2 pp
2010 17.6 −0.2 pp
2009 17.8 −0.2 pp
2008 18.1 −0.2 pp
2007 18.3 −0.2 pp
2006 18.5 −0.2 pp
2005 18.8 −0.3 pp
2004 19 −0.3 pp
2003 19.3 −0.3 pp
2002 19.6 −0.3 pp
2001 19.9 −0.4 pp
2000 20.3 −0.5 pp
1999 20.7 −0.6 pp
1998 21.3 −0.6 pp
1997 21.9 −0.5 pp
1996 22.4 −0.5 pp
1995 22.9 −0.5 pp
1994 23.4 −0.5 pp
1993 23.8 −0.5 pp
1992 24.3 −0.5 pp
1991 24.8 −0.5 pp
1990 25.3 −0.5 pp
1989 25.8 −0.5 pp
1988 26.4 −0.5 pp
1987 26.9 −0.6 pp
1986 27.5 −0.6 pp
1985 28.1 −0.6 pp
1984 28.7 −0.6 pp
1983 29.3 −0.6 pp
1982 29.9 −0.7 pp
1981 30.6 −0.7 pp
1980 31.3 −0.8 pp
1979 32.1 −0.9 pp
1978 33.1 −1 pp
1977 34 −1 pp
1976 35.1 −1.1 pp
1975 36.2 −1.1 pp
1974 37.2 −1.1 pp
1973 38.3 −1 pp
1972 39.3 −1 pp
1971 40.3 −0.9 pp
1970 41.2 −0.8 pp
1969 42 −0.8 pp
1968 42.8 −0.8 pp
1967 43.6 −0.8 pp
1966 44.4 −0.8 pp
1965 45.2 −0.8 pp
1964 46 −0.7 pp
1963 46.7 −0.7 pp
1962 47.5 −0.7 pp
1961 48.2 −0.7 pp
1960 48.9

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.