Rural population, annual growth rate in China
China: Rural population, annual growth rate was -1.48 % change on previous year in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
-1.48 % change on previous year
Change on year
down 25.6%
World rank
180th
of 208 countries
All-time high
3.28 % change on previous year
in 1962
All-time low
-4.59 % change on previous year
in 2011
Years of data
65
1961–2025
Rural population, annual growth rate in China, 1961–2025
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in % change on previous year.
Analysis
The most recent figure for rural population, annual growth rate in China is -1.48 % change on previous year, measured in 2025.
The figure is down 25.6% on the previous year and up 50.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, rural population, annual growth rate in China peaked at 3.28 % change on previous year in 1962 and was at its lowest, -4.59 % change on previous year, in 2011.
China ranks 180th of 208 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Rural population, annual growth rate in China, year by year
| Year | % change on previous year | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | -0.4537 % change on previous year | — |
| 1962 | 3.28 % change on previous year | -823.8% |
| 1963 | 3.09 % change on previous year | -5.8% |
| 1964 | 0.5465 % change on previous year | -82.3% |
| 1965 | 2.81 % change on previous year | +413.5% |
| 1966 | 2.98 % change on previous year | +6.3% |
| 1967 | 2.75 % change on previous year | -7.7% |
| 1968 | 2.79 % change on previous year | +1.5% |
| 1969 | 2.93 % change on previous year | +4.8% |
| 1970 | 2.95 % change on previous year | +0.7% |
| 1971 | 2.93 % change on previous year | -0.5% |
| 1972 | 2.65 % change on previous year | -9.8% |
| 1973 | 2.22 % change on previous year | -16.0% |
| 1974 | 2.13 % change on previous year | -4.1% |
| 1975 | 1.56 % change on previous year | -26.9% |
| 1976 | 1.45 % change on previous year | -7.3% |
| 1977 | 1.23 % change on previous year | -14.9% |
| 1978 | 0.8996 % change on previous year | -26.9% |
| 1979 | 0.0516 % change on previous year | -94.3% |
| 1980 | 0.7248 % change on previous year | +1304.7% |
| 1981 | 0.3274 % change on previous year | -54.8% |
| 1982 | 0.9636 % change on previous year | +194.3% |
| 1983 | 0.1041 % change on previous year | -89.2% |
| 1984 | -0.4772 % change on previous year | -558.4% |
| 1985 | 0.459 % change on previous year | -196.2% |
| 1986 | 0.4103 % change on previous year | -10.6% |
| 1987 | 0.547 % change on previous year | +33.3% |
| 1988 | 0.949 % change on previous year | +73.5% |
| 1989 | 1 % change on previous year | +5.7% |
| 1990 | 1.5 % change on previous year | +49.3% |
| 1991 | 0.3512 % change on previous year | -76.6% |
| 1992 | 0.5131 % change on previous year | +46.1% |
| 1993 | 0.4169 % change on previous year | -18.8% |
| 1994 | 0.4067 % change on previous year | -2.5% |
| 1995 | 0.3422 % change on previous year | -15.8% |
| 1996 | -0.9964 % change on previous year | -391.2% |
| 1997 | -1.05 % change on previous year | +5.3% |
| 1998 | -1.17 % change on previous year | +11.6% |
| 1999 | -1.29 % change on previous year | +10.5% |
| 2000 | -1.76 % change on previous year | +36.2% |
| 2001 | -1.22 % change on previous year | -31.0% |
| 2002 | -1.64 % change on previous year | +34.6% |
| 2003 | -1.75 % change on previous year | +7.2% |
| 2004 | -1.48 % change on previous year | -15.4% |
| 2005 | -1.53 % change on previous year | +3.4% |
| 2006 | -1.83 % change on previous year | +19.0% |
| 2007 | -2.27 % change on previous year | +24.2% |
| 2008 | -1.53 % change on previous year | -32.6% |
| 2009 | -2.06 % change on previous year | +34.9% |
| 2010 | -1.25 % change on previous year | -39.4% |
| 2011 | -4.59 % change on previous year | +267.0% |
| 2012 | -1.97 % change on previous year | -57.0% |
| 2013 | -2.31 % change on previous year | +17.2% |
| 2014 | -2.15 % change on previous year | -6.9% |
| 2015 | -3.01 % change on previous year | +39.6% |
| 2016 | -2.98 % change on previous year | -0.8% |
| 2017 | -2.82 % change on previous year | -5.7% |
| 2018 | -2.71 % change on previous year | -3.6% |
| 2019 | -2.8 % change on previous year | +3.1% |
| 2020 | -1.95 % change on previous year | -30.4% |
| 2021 | -3.2 % change on previous year | +64.1% |
| 2022 | -1.42 % change on previous year | -55.6% |
| 2023 | -1 % change on previous year | -29.5% |
| 2024 | -1.18 % change on previous year | +17.8% |
| 2025 | -1.48 % change on previous year | +25.6% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's -1.48 % change on previous year is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is -0.5998 % change on previous year, 2.5× the median. (59 countries reporting)
- China's -1.48 % change on previous year is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 0.0489 % change on previous year. (35 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Rural population, annual growth rate in China changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | +1304.7% | 0.0516 % change on previous year | 0.7248 % change on previous year |
| 1962 | +823.8% | -0.4537 % change on previous year | 3.28 % change on previous year |
| 1984 | -558.4% | 0.1041 % change on previous year | -0.4772 % change on previous year |
| 1965 | +413.5% | 0.5465 % change on previous year | 2.81 % change on previous year |
| 1996 | -391.2% | 0.3422 % change on previous year | -0.9964 % change on previous year |
| 2011 | -267.0% | -1.25 % change on previous year | -4.59 % change on previous year |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 2.3 % change on previous year | -0.4537 % change on previous year | 3.28 % change on previous year | 9 |
| 1970s | 1.81 % change on previous year | 0.0516 % change on previous year | 2.95 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.5012 % change on previous year | -0.4772 % change on previous year | 1 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1990s | -0.0983 % change on previous year | -1.29 % change on previous year | 1.5 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2000s | -1.71 % change on previous year | -2.27 % change on previous year | -1.22 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2010s | -2.66 % change on previous year | -4.59 % change on previous year | -1.25 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2020s | -1.7 % change on previous year | -3.2 % change on previous year | -1 % change on previous year | 6 |
Countries ranked near China
- 177 British Virgin Islands -1.39 % change on previous year compare
- 178 El Salvador -1.41 % change on previous year compare
- 179 Latvia -1.45 % change on previous year compare
- 181 Costa Rica -1.57 % change on previous year compare
- 182 Peru -1.72 % change on previous year compare
- 183 Qatar -1.72 % change on previous year compare
More agriculture & rural data for China
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 1.98 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0666 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 923.03 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.3366 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 6.7% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 6.7% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 0.3% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 2.7% (2024)
- Rural population 33.7% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is rural population, annual growth rate in China?
- Rural population, annual growth rate in China was -1.48 % change on previous year in 2025, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest rural population, annual growth rate recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 3.28 % change on previous year in 1962.
- What is the lowest rural population, annual growth rate recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was -4.59 % change on previous year in 2011.
- How does China rank for rural population, annual growth rate?
- China ranks 180th out of 208 countries with data for 2025.
- Is rural population, annual growth rate rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 50.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Rural population, annual growth rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 65 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
The year-on-year percentage change in Rural population. Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.
Computed from
- Rural population World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN)
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
The year-on-year percentage change in Rural population. Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.