Rural population growth (annual %) in Europe & Central Asia
Europe & Central Asia: Rural population growth (annual %) was 0.0% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Rural population growth in Europe & Central Asia, 1961–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN). Measured in annual %.
Analysis
In 2025, rural population growth in Europe & Central Asia stood at 0.0%.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 138.0% on the previous year and up 102.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, rural population growth in Europe & Central Asia peaked at 0.2% in 1992 and was at its lowest, -1.6%, in 2014.
Europe & Central Asia ranks 32nd of 47 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Rural population growth (annual %) in Europe & Central Asia, year by year
| Year | annual % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | -0.1% | — |
| 1962 | -0.0% | -92.4% |
| 1963 | -0.1% | +1458.7% |
| 1964 | -0.3% | +106.1% |
| 1965 | -0.4% | +27.4% |
| 1966 | -0.5% | +41.0% |
| 1967 | -0.5% | -5.6% |
| 1968 | -0.5% | -0.7% |
| 1969 | -0.5% | +5.9% |
| 1970 | -0.5% | +3.0% |
| 1971 | -0.4% | -19.8% |
| 1972 | -0.5% | +16.6% |
| 1973 | -0.5% | +10.8% |
| 1974 | -0.6% | +5.0% |
| 1975 | -0.4% | -21.8% |
| 1976 | -0.4% | -5.1% |
| 1977 | -0.3% | -29.1% |
| 1978 | -0.3% | -13.1% |
| 1979 | -0.3% | +3.6% |
| 1980 | -0.3% | +28.7% |
| 1981 | -0.2% | -29.1% |
| 1982 | -0.3% | +9.0% |
| 1983 | -0.2% | -17.0% |
| 1984 | -0.2% | -29.7% |
| 1985 | -0.1% | -42.1% |
| 1986 | -0.1% | +47.0% |
| 1987 | -0.1% | -6.4% |
| 1988 | -0.1% | -18.3% |
| 1989 | -0.0% | -88.6% |
| 1990 | 0.1% | -729.3% |
| 1991 | 0.1% | -9.5% |
| 1992 | 0.2% | +230.2% |
| 1993 | 0.1% | -42.8% |
| 1994 | -0.1% | -162.6% |
| 1995 | -0.1% | +74.8% |
| 1996 | -0.3% | +124.0% |
| 1997 | -0.4% | +42.3% |
| 1998 | -0.4% | -12.0% |
| 1999 | -0.2% | -35.8% |
| 2000 | -0.6% | +131.1% |
| 2001 | -0.5% | -5.5% |
| 2002 | -0.4% | -19.6% |
| 2003 | -0.4% | -17.3% |
| 2004 | -0.2% | -38.7% |
| 2005 | -0.2% | +12.2% |
| 2006 | -0.4% | +49.6% |
| 2007 | -0.4% | +5.9% |
| 2008 | -0.3% | -34.4% |
| 2009 | -0.2% | -6.9% |
| 2010 | -0.4% | +76.8% |
| 2011 | -0.6% | +36.2% |
| 2012 | -0.8% | +34.6% |
| 2013 | -1.5% | +92.7% |
| 2014 | -1.6% | +8.0% |
| 2015 | -1.2% | -24.8% |
| 2016 | -0.5% | -62.2% |
| 2017 | -0.0% | -94.9% |
| 2018 | -0.2% | +607.9% |
| 2019 | -0.3% | +83.0% |
| 2020 | -0.3% | +5.6% |
| 2021 | -0.4% | +28.7% |
| 2022 | -0.4% | +3.9% |
| 2023 | -0.4% | -10.0% |
| 2024 | -0.1% | -79.8% |
| 2025 | 0.0% | -138.0% |
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Rural population growth (annual %) in Europe & Central Asia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1963 | -1458.7% | -0.0% | -0.1% |
| 1990 | +729.3% | -0.0% | 0.1% |
| 2018 | -607.9% | -0.0% | -0.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | -0.3% | -0.5% | -0.0% | 9 |
| 1970s | -0.4% | -0.6% | -0.3% | 10 |
| 1980s | -0.2% | -0.3% | -0.0% | 10 |
| 1990s | -0.1% | -0.4% | 0.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | -0.4% | -0.6% | -0.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | -0.7% | -1.6% | -0.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | -0.3% | -0.4% | 0.0% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Europe & Central Asia
- 29 Madagascar 1.7% compare
- 30 South Sudan 1.6% compare
- 31 Equatorial Guinea 1.6% compare
- 32 Kyrgyzstan 1.6% compare
- 33 Mozambique 1.6% compare
- 34 Turkmenistan 1.6% compare
- 35 Guinea 1.6% compare
More agriculture & rural data for Europe & Central Asia
- Agricultural raw materials imports 1.1% (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 0.029 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.2593 units per person (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 1.1% (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added 643.81 billion current US$ (2025)
- Rural population 241.78 million (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added 2.0% (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 690.4 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population 25.9% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is rural population growth in Europe & Central Asia?
- Rural population growth in Europe & Central Asia was 0.0% in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest rural population growth recorded in Europe & Central Asia?
- The highest recorded value was 0.2% in 1992.
- What is the lowest rural population growth recorded in Europe & Central Asia?
- The lowest recorded value was -1.6% in 2014.
- How does Europe & Central Asia rank for rural population growth?
- Europe & Central Asia ranks 32nd out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is rural population growth rising or falling in Europe & Central Asia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 102.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Europe & Central Asia 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.