Rural population share — all countries

Rural population share — United States

Rural population share in the United States in 2025 — 19.8%. Ranked 161 in the world out of 217. Since 1960, the indicator has fallen by 10.2 pp.

2025 19.8% −0.1 pp vs 2024
World rank 161of 217
Period maximum 30%1960
Period minimum 19.3%2010

Trend over time

1960–2025 · % of population

Rural population share — United States, 1960–2025152025303519601967197419811988199520022009201620231960: 30%1962: 29.1%1964: 28.1%1966: 27.3%1968: 26.8%1970: 26.5%1972: 26.4%1974: 26.4%1976: 26.4%1978: 26.3%1980: 26.2%1982: 26.1%1984: 25.8%1986: 25.5%1988: 25.2%1990: 24.7%1992: 24.1%1994: 23.3%1996: 22.3%1998: 21.5%2000: 20.9%2002: 20.5%2004: 20%2006: 19.6%2008: 19.4%2010: 19.3%2012: 19.3%2014: 19.4%2016: 19.5%2018: 19.7%2020: 20%2022: 20%2024: 19.9%2025: 19.8%
Change over the period: −10.2 pp Annual average: -0.16 pp

Comparison, 2025

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

United States 19.8%
World 42.2%
Northern America computed 19.5%
High-income countries computed 19.7%
Rural population share — United States, by year United States All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 19.8 −0.1 pp
2024 19.9 −0.1 pp
2023 19.9 −0 pp
2022 20 −0 pp
2021 20 −0 pp
2020 20 +0.1 pp
2019 19.9 +0.1 pp
2018 19.7 +0.1 pp
2017 19.6 +0.1 pp
2016 19.5 +0.1 pp
2015 19.4 +0.1 pp
2014 19.4 +0 pp
2013 19.3 +0 pp
2012 19.3 +0 pp
2011 19.3 +0 pp
2010 19.3 −0 pp
2009 19.3 −0.1 pp
2008 19.4 −0.1 pp
2007 19.5 −0.1 pp
2006 19.6 −0.2 pp
2005 19.8 −0.2 pp
2004 20 −0.2 pp
2003 20.2 −0.2 pp
2002 20.5 −0.2 pp
2001 20.7 −0.2 pp
2000 20.9 −0.3 pp
1999 21.2 −0.3 pp
1998 21.5 −0.4 pp
1997 21.9 −0.4 pp
1996 22.3 −0.5 pp
1995 22.8 −0.5 pp
1994 23.3 −0.4 pp
1993 23.7 −0.4 pp
1992 24.1 −0.4 pp
1991 24.5 −0.3 pp
1990 24.7 −0.2 pp
1989 24.9 −0.2 pp
1988 25.2 −0.2 pp
1987 25.3 −0.2 pp
1986 25.5 −0.2 pp
1985 25.7 −0.2 pp
1984 25.8 −0.1 pp
1983 26 −0.1 pp
1982 26.1 −0.1 pp
1981 26.2 −0.1 pp
1980 26.2 −0 pp
1979 26.3 −0 pp
1978 26.3 −0 pp
1977 26.3 −0 pp
1976 26.4 −0 pp
1975 26.4 −0 pp
1974 26.4 −0 pp
1973 26.4 −0 pp
1972 26.4 −0 pp
1971 26.5 −0 pp
1970 26.5 −0.1 pp
1969 26.6 −0.2 pp
1968 26.8 −0.3 pp
1967 27 −0.3 pp
1966 27.3 −0.4 pp
1965 27.7 −0.4 pp
1964 28.1 −0.5 pp
1963 28.6 −0.5 pp
1962 29.1 −0.5 pp
1961 29.6 −0.5 pp
1960 30

Northern America, 2025

The same indicator for neighboring countries — with links to their pages

US United States 19.8 CA Canada 17.1 BM Bermuda 0

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.