Rural population growth (annual %) in European Union
European Union: Rural population growth (annual %) 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.
European Union ranks 38th 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 (annual %) 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
- 35 Guinea 1.6% compare
- 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
More agriculture & rural data for European Union
- Rural population, annual growth rate -0.3771 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population 112.00 million (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added 1.6% (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added 346.42 billion current US$ (2025)
- Rural population 24.8% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 1.2% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 1.3% (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.2483 units per person (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 767.89 current US$ per person (2025)
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 38th out of 47 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.
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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.