Rural population growth in Japan
Japan: Rural population growth was -1.9% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Rural population growth in Japan, 1961–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN). Measured in annual %.
Analysis
In 2025, rural population growth in Japan stood at -1.9%.
The figure is down 6.0% on the previous year and down 54.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, rural population growth in Japan peaked at 0.7% in 1978 and was at its lowest, -11.7%, in 2004.
That places Japan 186th out of 209 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Rural population growth in Japan, year by year
| Year | annual % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | -1.9% | — |
| 1962 | -1.8% | -5.5% |
| 1963 | -1.6% | -8.7% |
| 1964 | -1.6% | -3.7% |
| 1965 | -1.6% | -1.5% |
| 1966 | -1.7% | +11.5% |
| 1967 | -1.6% | -8.4% |
| 1968 | -1.5% | -6.0% |
| 1969 | -1.5% | -2.1% |
| 1970 | -1.5% | +5.6% |
| 1971 | -0.9% | -44.3% |
| 1972 | -2.2% | +157.7% |
| 1973 | -2.3% | +2.7% |
| 1974 | -1.8% | -21.4% |
| 1975 | -0.5% | -70.1% |
| 1976 | 0.6% | -206.6% |
| 1977 | 0.7% | +24.8% |
| 1978 | 0.7% | +2.6% |
| 1979 | 0.7% | -7.3% |
| 1980 | 0.6% | -17.7% |
| 1981 | 0.4% | -28.0% |
| 1982 | 0.3% | -29.2% |
| 1983 | 0.2% | -18.8% |
| 1984 | 0.1% | -35.0% |
| 1985 | 0.1% | -21.2% |
| 1986 | 0.0% | -87.6% |
| 1987 | -0.1% | -555.1% |
| 1988 | -0.2% | +135.7% |
| 1989 | -0.2% | +19.4% |
| 1990 | -0.3% | +37.5% |
| 1991 | -0.2% | -22.2% |
| 1992 | -0.2% | +17.6% |
| 1993 | -0.3% | +23.2% |
| 1994 | -0.3% | +15.4% |
| 1995 | -0.4% | +12.3% |
| 1996 | -0.3% | -16.9% |
| 1997 | -0.2% | -37.7% |
| 1998 | -0.2% | -15.6% |
| 1999 | -0.4% | +131.3% |
| 2000 | -0.6% | +57.2% |
| 2001 | -2.3% | +291.3% |
| 2002 | -6.7% | +184.8% |
| 2003 | -9.9% | +48.7% |
| 2004 | -11.7% | +18.3% |
| 2005 | -10.7% | -8.8% |
| 2006 | -8.8% | -17.9% |
| 2007 | -9.0% | +2.9% |
| 2008 | -9.1% | +0.3% |
| 2009 | -8.0% | -11.9% |
| 2010 | -5.3% | -34.0% |
| 2011 | -2.8% | -47.3% |
| 2012 | -2.0% | -29.4% |
| 2013 | -1.5% | -21.1% |
| 2014 | -1.3% | -15.6% |
| 2015 | -1.2% | -5.3% |
| 2016 | -1.2% | -1.0% |
| 2017 | -1.2% | -1.3% |
| 2018 | -1.2% | -3.0% |
| 2019 | -1.1% | -7.4% |
| 2020 | -1.1% | -0.8% |
| 2021 | -1.6% | +48.5% |
| 2022 | -1.7% | +7.9% |
| 2023 | -1.8% | +4.6% |
| 2024 | -1.8% | -0.2% |
| 2025 | -1.9% | +6.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | -1.6% | -1.9% | -1.5% | 9 |
| 1970s | -0.7% | -2.3% | 0.7% | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.1% | -0.2% | 0.6% | 10 |
| 1990s | -0.3% | -0.4% | -0.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | -7.7% | -11.7% | -0.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | -1.9% | -5.3% | -1.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | -1.7% | -1.9% | -1.1% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Japan
More agriculture & rural data for Japan
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 10.95 % change on previous year (2024)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0096 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 323.87 current US$ per person (2024)
- Rural population, annual growth rate -1.89 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.077 units per person (2025)
- Agriculture share gdp 0.9583 (2024)
- Value added in the agricultural sector as of gdp vs gdp per capita 0.9583 (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 0.5% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 1.6% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is rural population growth in Japan?
- Rural population growth in Japan was -1.9% in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest rural population growth recorded in Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 0.7% in 1978.
- What is the lowest rural population growth recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was -11.7% in 2004.
- How does Japan rank for rural population growth?
- Japan ranks 186th out of 209 countries with data for 2025.
- Is rural population growth rising or falling in Japan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 54.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Japan 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.