Rural population share — all countries

Rural population share — United Kingdom

Rural population share in the United Kingdom in 2025 — 16.7%. Ranked 168 in the world out of 217. Since 1960, the indicator has fallen by 4.8 pp.

2025 16.7% −0.1 pp vs 2024
World rank 168of 217
Period maximum 23.1%1971
Period minimum 16.7%2025

Trend over time

1960–2025 · % of population

Rural population share — United Kingdom, 1960–2025161820222419601967197419811988199520022009201620231960: 21.4%1962: 21.8%1964: 22.2%1966: 22.6%1968: 22.9%1970: 23.1%1972: 23%1974: 22.7%1976: 22.2%1978: 21.7%1980: 21.4%1982: 21.4%1984: 21.5%1986: 21.7%1988: 21.8%1990: 21.9%1992: 21.8%1994: 21.6%1996: 21.1%1998: 20.6%2000: 20.2%2002: 19.9%2004: 19.7%2006: 19.5%2008: 19.2%2010: 19%2012: 18.7%2014: 18.4%2016: 18%2018: 17.6%2020: 17.1%2022: 16.9%2024: 16.8%2025: 16.7%
Change over the period: −4.8 pp Annual average: -0.07 pp

Comparison, 2025

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

United Kingdom 16.7%
World 42.2%
Northern Europe computed 18.1%
High-income countries computed 19.7%
Rural population share — United Kingdom, by year United Kingdom All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 16.7 −0.1 pp
2024 16.8 −0.1 pp
2023 16.8 −0.1 pp
2022 16.9 −0.1 pp
2021 17 −0.1 pp
2020 17.1 −0.2 pp
2019 17.3 −0.2 pp
2018 17.6 −0.2 pp
2017 17.8 −0.2 pp
2016 18 −0.2 pp
2015 18.2 −0.2 pp
2014 18.4 −0.2 pp
2013 18.5 −0.2 pp
2012 18.7 −0.2 pp
2011 18.9 −0.1 pp
2010 19 −0.1 pp
2009 19.1 −0.1 pp
2008 19.2 −0.1 pp
2007 19.4 −0.1 pp
2006 19.5 −0.1 pp
2005 19.6 −0.1 pp
2004 19.7 −0.1 pp
2003 19.8 −0.1 pp
2002 19.9 −0.1 pp
2001 20 −0.2 pp
2000 20.2 −0.2 pp
1999 20.4 −0.2 pp
1998 20.6 −0.2 pp
1997 20.9 −0.2 pp
1996 21.1 −0.2 pp
1995 21.3 −0.2 pp
1994 21.6 −0.2 pp
1993 21.7 −0.1 pp
1992 21.8 −0.1 pp
1991 21.9 +0 pp
1990 21.9 +0 pp
1989 21.9 +0.1 pp
1988 21.8 +0.1 pp
1987 21.7 +0.1 pp
1986 21.7 +0.1 pp
1985 21.6 +0.1 pp
1984 21.5 +0.1 pp
1983 21.5 +0 pp
1982 21.4 +0 pp
1981 21.4 −0 pp
1980 21.4 −0.1 pp
1979 21.5 −0.2 pp
1978 21.7 −0.2 pp
1977 21.9 −0.3 pp
1976 22.2 −0.3 pp
1975 22.5 −0.2 pp
1974 22.7 −0.2 pp
1973 22.9 −0.1 pp
1972 23 −0.1 pp
1971 23.1 +0 pp
1970 23.1 +0.1 pp
1969 23 +0.1 pp
1968 22.9 +0.1 pp
1967 22.8 +0.2 pp
1966 22.6 +0.2 pp
1965 22.4 +0.2 pp
1964 22.2 +0.2 pp
1963 22 +0.2 pp
1962 21.8 +0.2 pp
1961 21.6 +0.2 pp
1960 21.4

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.