Rural population growth in Germany
Germany: Rural population growth was -0.7% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Rural population growth in Germany, 1961–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN). Measured in annual %.
Analysis
Germany recorded -0.7% for rural population growth in 2025.
The figure is down 81.1% on the previous year and down 388.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, rural population growth in Germany peaked at 0.8% in 1990 and was at its lowest, -2.0%, in 2011.
That places Germany 153rd out of 209 countries with data for 2025, putting it 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 in Germany, year by year
| Year | annual % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | -1.2% | — |
| 1962 | -1.3% | +5.5% |
| 1963 | -1.4% | +10.4% |
| 1964 | -1.6% | +13.1% |
| 1965 | -1.5% | -6.0% |
| 1966 | -1.3% | -9.8% |
| 1967 | -1.4% | +6.5% |
| 1968 | -1.0% | -29.1% |
| 1969 | -0.1% | -90.6% |
| 1970 | 0.0% | -131.3% |
| 1971 | 0.0% | -46.8% |
| 1972 | 0.3% | +1868.3% |
| 1973 | 0.2% | -48.5% |
| 1974 | -0.1% | -164.8% |
| 1975 | -0.5% | +386.1% |
| 1976 | -0.5% | +8.8% |
| 1977 | -0.3% | -38.9% |
| 1978 | -0.2% | -44.7% |
| 1979 | -0.0% | -76.0% |
| 1980 | 0.1% | -386.3% |
| 1981 | 0.1% | -37.0% |
| 1982 | -0.2% | -299.3% |
| 1983 | -0.3% | +100.4% |
| 1984 | -0.4% | +24.2% |
| 1985 | -0.3% | -32.0% |
| 1986 | 0.0% | -101.0% |
| 1987 | 0.1% | +3933.3% |
| 1988 | 0.4% | +209.9% |
| 1989 | 0.7% | +108.6% |
| 1990 | 0.8% | +12.2% |
| 1991 | 0.7% | -16.0% |
| 1992 | 0.7% | +4.6% |
| 1993 | 0.6% | -14.2% |
| 1994 | 0.3% | -49.9% |
| 1995 | 0.3% | -17.6% |
| 1996 | 0.3% | -2.8% |
| 1997 | 0.1% | -58.6% |
| 1998 | -0.0% | -130.8% |
| 1999 | 0.0% | -138.9% |
| 2000 | 0.1% | +522.0% |
| 2001 | 0.1% | +33.9% |
| 2002 | 0.1% | -7.2% |
| 2003 | -0.0% | -125.7% |
| 2004 | -0.1% | +347.5% |
| 2005 | -0.2% | +40.4% |
| 2006 | -0.2% | +42.7% |
| 2007 | -0.3% | +14.5% |
| 2008 | -0.3% | +26.9% |
| 2009 | -0.4% | +23.6% |
| 2010 | -0.3% | -21.8% |
| 2011 | -2.0% | +552.2% |
| 2012 | -0.1% | -96.0% |
| 2013 | -0.1% | +65.3% |
| 2014 | -0.1% | -18.8% |
| 2015 | 0.2% | -316.7% |
| 2016 | 0.1% | -60.7% |
| 2017 | -0.4% | -539.5% |
| 2018 | -0.5% | +30.5% |
| 2019 | -0.6% | +20.4% |
| 2020 | -0.8% | +24.8% |
| 2021 | -0.8% | +4.5% |
| 2022 | -0.9% | +3.1% |
| 2023 | -0.5% | -40.9% |
| 2024 | -0.4% | -26.1% |
| 2025 | -0.7% | +81.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | -1.2% | -1.6% | -0.1% | 9 |
| 1970s | -0.1% | -0.5% | 0.3% | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.0% | -0.4% | 0.7% | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.4% | -0.0% | 0.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | -0.1% | -0.4% | 0.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | -0.4% | -2.0% | 0.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | -0.7% | -0.9% | -0.4% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Germany
More agriculture & rural data for Germany
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 2.73 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0087 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 527.18 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate -0.6813 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.1786 units per person (2025)
- Agriculture share gdp 0.8714 (2025)
- Value added in the agricultural sector as of gdp vs gdp per capita 0.8714 (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 0.7% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 1.1% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is rural population growth in Germany?
- Rural population growth in Germany was -0.7% in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest rural population growth recorded in Germany?
- The highest recorded value was 0.8% in 1990.
- What is the lowest rural population growth recorded in Germany?
- The lowest recorded value was -2.0% in 2011.
- How does Germany rank for rural population growth?
- Germany ranks 153rd out of 209 countries with data for 2025.
- Is rural population growth rising or falling in Germany?
- Over the last ten years it is down 388.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Germany 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.