Rural population growth in Central Europe and the Baltics
Central Europe and the Baltics: Rural population growth was -0.5% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Rural population growth in Central Europe and the Baltics, 1961–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN). Measured in annual %.
Analysis
Central Europe and the Baltics recorded -0.5% for rural population growth in 2025.
The figure is down 38.6% on the previous year and down 67.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, rural population growth in Central Europe and the Baltics peaked at -0.0% in 1994 and was at its lowest, -1.6%, in 1980.
Central Europe and the Baltics ranks 39th of 47 groups 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 growth in Central Europe and the Baltics, year by year
| Year | annual % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | -0.2% | — |
| 1962 | -0.2% | +4.0% |
| 1963 | -0.1% | -25.0% |
| 1964 | -0.4% | +176.3% |
| 1965 | -0.6% | +40.5% |
| 1966 | -0.4% | -33.2% |
| 1967 | -0.2% | -57.4% |
| 1968 | -0.3% | +88.8% |
| 1969 | -0.6% | +102.9% |
| 1970 | -0.9% | +41.5% |
| 1971 | -0.9% | +4.3% |
| 1972 | -0.9% | -5.7% |
| 1973 | -0.9% | +0.1% |
| 1974 | -0.9% | +8.3% |
| 1975 | -0.4% | -52.0% |
| 1976 | -0.9% | +103.2% |
| 1977 | -0.8% | -17.5% |
| 1978 | -0.5% | -34.1% |
| 1979 | -0.7% | +50.8% |
| 1980 | -1.6% | +121.2% |
| 1981 | -0.8% | -49.6% |
| 1982 | -0.6% | -24.1% |
| 1983 | -0.6% | -2.1% |
| 1984 | -0.6% | +4.6% |
| 1985 | -0.3% | -55.9% |
| 1986 | -0.4% | +43.9% |
| 1987 | -0.4% | +2.0% |
| 1988 | -0.4% | -15.6% |
| 1989 | -0.4% | +7.1% |
| 1990 | -0.3% | -31.6% |
| 1991 | -0.5% | +81.3% |
| 1992 | -0.5% | +2.1% |
| 1993 | -0.1% | -75.3% |
| 1994 | -0.0% | -74.0% |
| 1995 | -0.1% | +237.3% |
| 1996 | -0.1% | +11.1% |
| 1997 | -0.1% | -21.9% |
| 1998 | -0.1% | +31.3% |
| 1999 | -0.1% | +7.2% |
| 2000 | -0.6% | +339.9% |
| 2001 | -1.0% | +72.5% |
| 2002 | -0.8% | -17.6% |
| 2003 | -0.3% | -64.5% |
| 2004 | -0.3% | +0.7% |
| 2005 | -0.5% | +82.8% |
| 2006 | -0.5% | -4.7% |
| 2007 | -0.4% | -22.7% |
| 2008 | -0.7% | +70.9% |
| 2009 | -0.3% | -57.5% |
| 2010 | -0.6% | +103.3% |
| 2011 | -0.3% | -47.0% |
| 2012 | -0.1% | -49.7% |
| 2013 | -0.3% | +109.7% |
| 2014 | -0.3% | -9.6% |
| 2015 | -0.3% | +11.9% |
| 2016 | -0.1% | -57.0% |
| 2017 | -0.2% | +62.1% |
| 2018 | -0.1% | -55.3% |
| 2019 | -0.0% | -66.9% |
| 2020 | -0.3% | +946.9% |
| 2021 | -0.8% | +129.3% |
| 2022 | -0.2% | -68.4% |
| 2023 | -0.2% | -36.5% |
| 2024 | -0.4% | +142.9% |
| 2025 | -0.5% | +38.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | -0.3% | -0.6% | -0.1% | 9 |
| 1970s | -0.8% | -0.9% | -0.4% | 10 |
| 1980s | -0.6% | -1.6% | -0.3% | 10 |
| 1990s | -0.2% | -0.5% | -0.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | -0.5% | -1.0% | -0.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | -0.2% | -0.6% | -0.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | -0.4% | -0.8% | -0.2% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Central Europe and the Baltics
- 36 Kenya 1.5% compare
- 37 Liechtenstein 1.4% compare
- 38 Solomon Islands 1.4% compare
- 39 Armenia 1.4% compare
- 40 Burkina Faso 1.4% compare
- 41 Egypt 1.4% compare
- 42 Papua New Guinea 1.3% compare
More agriculture & rural data for Central Europe and the Baltics
- Rural population, per capita 0.3809 units per person (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added 67.30 billion current US$ (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added 2.4% (2025)
- Rural population 38.02 million (2025)
- Rural population 38.1% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 1.2% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 1.2% (2024)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0244 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate -0.5316 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is rural population growth in Central Europe and the Baltics?
- Rural population growth in Central Europe and the Baltics was -0.5% in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest rural population growth recorded in Central Europe and the Baltics?
- The highest recorded value was -0.0% in 1994.
- What is the lowest rural population growth recorded in Central Europe and the Baltics?
- The lowest recorded value was -1.6% in 1980.
- How does Central Europe and the Baltics rank for rural population growth?
- Central Europe and the Baltics ranks 39th out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is rural population growth rising or falling in Central Europe and the Baltics?
- Over the last ten years it is down 67.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Central Europe and the Baltics data come from?
- The figures come from World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN), published as part of Rural population growth (annual %). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Annual rural population growth rate for year t is the exponential rate of growth of midyear rural population from year t-1 to t, expressed as a percentage. Rural population refers to people living in rural areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated as the difference between total population and urban population.