Rural population share — all countries

Rural population share — World

Rural population share in the world in 2025 — 42.2%. Since 1960, the indicator has fallen by 23.6 pp.

2025 42.2% −0.3 pp vs 2024
World rank
Period maximum 65.8%1960
Period minimum 42.2%2025

Trend over time

1960–2025 · % of population

Rural population share — World, 1960–20254050607019601967197419811988199520022009201620231960: 65.8%1962: 65.6%1964: 64.9%1966: 64.4%1968: 64%1970: 63.6%1972: 63.1%1974: 62.6%1976: 62%1978: 61.4%1980: 60.5%1982: 59.8%1984: 58.9%1986: 58.2%1988: 57.6%1990: 57.2%1992: 56.6%1994: 56%1996: 55.2%1998: 54.2%2000: 53.2%2002: 52.2%2004: 51.1%2006: 50.1%2008: 49.1%2010: 48.2%2012: 47.1%2014: 46.1%2016: 45.1%2018: 44.2%2020: 43.6%2022: 42.9%2024: 42.4%2025: 42.2%
Change over the period: −23.6 pp Annual average: -0.36 pp

Comparison, 2025

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

World 42.2%
World 42.2%
Rural population share — World, by year World All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 42.2 −0.3 pp
2024 42.4 −0.3 pp
2023 42.7 −0.2 pp
2022 42.9 −0.3 pp
2021 43.2 −0.4 pp
2020 43.6 −0.3 pp
2019 43.9 −0.4 pp
2018 44.2 −0.4 pp
2017 44.7 −0.4 pp
2016 45.1 −0.5 pp
2015 45.6 −0.5 pp
2014 46.1 −0.5 pp
2013 46.6 −0.5 pp
2012 47.1 −0.5 pp
2011 47.5 −0.7 pp
2010 48.2 −0.4 pp
2009 48.6 −0.5 pp
2008 49.1 −0.5 pp
2007 49.6 −0.5 pp
2006 50.1 −0.5 pp
2005 50.6 −0.5 pp
2004 51.1 −0.5 pp
2003 51.6 −0.5 pp
2002 52.2 −0.5 pp
2001 52.7 −0.5 pp
2000 53.2 −0.5 pp
1999 53.7 −0.5 pp
1998 54.2 −0.5 pp
1997 54.7 −0.5 pp
1996 55.2 −0.5 pp
1995 55.7 −0.3 pp
1994 56 −0.3 pp
1993 56.3 −0.3 pp
1992 56.6 −0.3 pp
1991 56.8 −0.3 pp
1990 57.2 −0.2 pp
1989 57.3 −0.3 pp
1988 57.6 −0.3 pp
1987 57.9 −0.4 pp
1986 58.2 −0.4 pp
1985 58.6 −0.3 pp
1984 58.9 −0.5 pp
1983 59.4 −0.4 pp
1982 59.8 −0.3 pp
1981 60.1 −0.4 pp
1980 60.5 −0.3 pp
1979 60.9 −0.5 pp
1978 61.4 −0.3 pp
1977 61.7 −0.3 pp
1976 62 −0.3 pp
1975 62.3 −0.3 pp
1974 62.6 −0.2 pp
1973 62.8 −0.3 pp
1972 63.1 −0.2 pp
1971 63.3 −0.2 pp
1970 63.6 −0.2 pp
1969 63.7 −0.2 pp
1968 64 −0.2 pp
1967 64.2 −0.2 pp
1966 64.4 −0.2 pp
1965 64.6 −0.2 pp
1964 64.9 −0.6 pp
1963 65.4 −0.2 pp
1962 65.6 +0.1 pp
1961 65.5 −0.3 pp
1960 65.8

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.