Rural population growth in European Union
European Union: Rural population growth was -0.4% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Rural population growth in European Union, 1961–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN). Measured in annual %.
Analysis
In 2025, rural population growth in European Union stood at -0.4%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 53.9% on the previous year and up 20.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, rural population growth in European Union peaked at -0.1% in 1993 and was at its lowest, -1.1%, in 1965.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Rural population growth in European Union, year by year
| Year | annual % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | -0.5% | — |
| 1962 | -0.6% | +14.4% |
| 1963 | -0.8% | +20.4% |
| 1964 | -1.0% | +32.8% |
| 1965 | -1.1% | +10.4% |
| 1966 | -1.0% | -5.5% |
| 1967 | -0.9% | -11.2% |
| 1968 | -0.8% | -11.2% |
| 1969 | -0.8% | -3.4% |
| 1970 | -0.8% | +1.7% |
| 1971 | -0.7% | -9.8% |
| 1972 | -0.6% | -24.2% |
| 1973 | -0.6% | -0.4% |
| 1974 | -0.6% | +5.2% |
| 1975 | -0.3% | -53.6% |
| 1976 | -0.4% | +62.2% |
| 1977 | -0.4% | -4.7% |
| 1978 | -0.3% | -28.8% |
| 1979 | -0.4% | +26.8% |
| 1980 | -0.6% | +71.7% |
| 1981 | -0.4% | -35.0% |
| 1982 | -0.4% | +3.8% |
| 1983 | -0.4% | +0.4% |
| 1984 | -0.5% | +7.6% |
| 1985 | -0.3% | -31.5% |
| 1986 | -0.4% | +9.7% |
| 1987 | -0.3% | -9.5% |
| 1988 | -0.3% | -17.7% |
| 1989 | -0.2% | -21.7% |
| 1990 | -0.1% | -46.9% |
| 1991 | -0.2% | +53.8% |
| 1992 | -0.1% | -13.4% |
| 1993 | -0.1% | -25.6% |
| 1994 | -0.2% | +71.8% |
| 1995 | -0.2% | +7.3% |
| 1996 | -0.4% | +98.2% |
| 1997 | -0.6% | +47.7% |
| 1998 | -0.4% | -36.0% |
| 1999 | -0.3% | -32.9% |
| 2000 | -0.5% | +113.0% |
| 2001 | -0.7% | +31.5% |
| 2002 | -0.4% | -38.7% |
| 2003 | -0.1% | -65.8% |
| 2004 | -0.1% | -16.9% |
| 2005 | -0.2% | +100.0% |
| 2006 | -0.2% | +1.4% |
| 2007 | -0.1% | -53.8% |
| 2008 | -0.2% | +32.4% |
| 2009 | -0.2% | +37.7% |
| 2010 | -0.4% | +112.2% |
| 2011 | -0.6% | +24.2% |
| 2012 | -0.4% | -34.3% |
| 2013 | -0.6% | +70.1% |
| 2014 | -0.5% | -19.3% |
| 2015 | -0.5% | -4.5% |
| 2016 | -0.6% | +31.9% |
| 2017 | -0.3% | -58.3% |
| 2018 | -0.4% | +36.0% |
| 2019 | -0.3% | -9.1% |
| 2020 | -0.4% | +12.5% |
| 2021 | -0.5% | +44.7% |
| 2022 | -0.3% | -52.0% |
| 2023 | -0.1% | -47.7% |
| 2024 | -0.2% | +86.2% |
| 2025 | -0.4% | +53.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | -0.8% | -1.1% | -0.5% | 9 |
| 1970s | -0.5% | -0.8% | -0.3% | 10 |
| 1980s | -0.4% | -0.6% | -0.2% | 10 |
| 1990s | -0.3% | -0.6% | -0.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | -0.3% | -0.7% | -0.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | -0.5% | -0.6% | -0.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | -0.3% | -0.5% | -0.1% | 6 |
Countries ranked near European Union
More agriculture & rural data for European Union
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added 346.42 billion current US$ (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0163 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate -0.3771 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.2483 units per person (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 1.2% (2024)
- Rural population 112.00 million (2025)
- Rural population 24.8% (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 767.89 current US$ per person (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 1.3% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is rural population growth in European Union?
- Rural population growth in European Union was -0.4% in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest rural population growth recorded in European Union?
- The highest recorded value was -0.1% in 1993.
- What is the lowest rural population growth recorded in European Union?
- The lowest recorded value was -1.1% in 1965.
- How does European Union rank for rural population growth?
- European Union ranks 4th out of 4 groups with data for 2025.
- Is rural population growth rising or falling in European Union?
- Over the last ten years it is up 20.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this European Union 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.
Download this data
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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.