Rural population growth (annual %) in North America
North America: Rural population growth (annual %) was 0.2% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Rural population growth in North America, 1961–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN). Measured in annual %.
Analysis
North America recorded 0.2% for rural population growth in 2025.
That represents a change of down 80.6% on the previous year and down 84.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, rural population growth in North America peaked at 1.2% in 1971 and was at its lowest, -0.8%, in 1996.
That places North America 30th out of 47 groups 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 (annual %) in North America, year by year
| Year | annual % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 0.1% | — |
| 1962 | -0.1% | -296.9% |
| 1963 | -0.3% | +92.3% |
| 1964 | -0.3% | +9.0% |
| 1965 | -0.4% | +15.5% |
| 1966 | -0.3% | -21.1% |
| 1967 | -0.2% | -41.2% |
| 1968 | -0.0% | -72.1% |
| 1969 | 0.2% | -575.4% |
| 1970 | 0.8% | +253.8% |
| 1971 | 1.2% | +59.9% |
| 1972 | 1.0% | -18.7% |
| 1973 | 1.0% | -4.8% |
| 1974 | 1.0% | +0.3% |
| 1975 | 1.0% | +7.2% |
| 1976 | 0.9% | -7.5% |
| 1977 | 1.0% | +0.6% |
| 1978 | 1.0% | +0.9% |
| 1979 | 1.0% | +0.9% |
| 1980 | 0.8% | -15.0% |
| 1981 | 0.8% | -7.6% |
| 1982 | 0.6% | -18.5% |
| 1983 | 0.5% | -25.6% |
| 1984 | 0.3% | -28.1% |
| 1985 | 0.3% | -12.6% |
| 1986 | 0.3% | +3.0% |
| 1987 | 0.3% | -10.2% |
| 1988 | 0.2% | -11.3% |
| 1989 | 0.3% | +17.9% |
| 1990 | 0.4% | +30.0% |
| 1991 | 0.3% | -17.2% |
| 1992 | 0.0% | -99.4% |
| 1993 | -0.3% | -17716.9% |
| 1994 | -0.6% | +79.5% |
| 1995 | -0.8% | +22.0% |
| 1996 | -0.8% | +3.2% |
| 1997 | -0.7% | -13.9% |
| 1998 | -0.6% | -13.6% |
| 1999 | -0.4% | -35.6% |
| 2000 | -0.1% | -70.3% |
| 2001 | -0.1% | +3.7% |
| 2002 | -0.2% | +89.8% |
| 2003 | -0.3% | +38.0% |
| 2004 | -0.2% | -33.6% |
| 2005 | -0.1% | -39.5% |
| 2006 | 0.0% | -139.5% |
| 2007 | 0.2% | +270.5% |
| 2008 | 0.4% | +99.4% |
| 2009 | 0.5% | +44.1% |
| 2010 | 0.7% | +42.4% |
| 2011 | 0.8% | +7.9% |
| 2012 | 0.9% | +9.6% |
| 2013 | 0.9% | +2.1% |
| 2014 | 1.0% | +11.1% |
| 2015 | 1.0% | +5.3% |
| 2016 | 1.1% | +10.3% |
| 2017 | 1.1% | +0.3% |
| 2018 | 1.1% | +1.5% |
| 2019 | 1.2% | +3.9% |
| 2020 | 1.0% | -19.2% |
| 2021 | 0.0% | -96.8% |
| 2022 | 0.5% | +1475.5% |
| 2023 | 0.7% | +52.1% |
| 2024 | 0.8% | +10.7% |
| 2025 | 0.2% | -80.6% |
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Rural population growth (annual %) in North America 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | -17716.9% | 0.0% | -0.3% |
| 2022 | +1475.5% | 0.0% | 0.5% |
| 1969 | +575.4% | -0.0% | 0.2% |
| 1962 | -296.9% | 0.1% | -0.1% |
| 2007 | +270.5% | 0.0% | 0.2% |
| 1970 | +253.8% | 0.2% | 0.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | -0.1% | -0.4% | 0.2% | 9 |
| 1970s | 1.0% | 0.8% | 1.2% | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.4% | 0.2% | 0.8% | 10 |
| 1990s | -0.3% | -0.8% | 0.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.0% | -0.3% | 0.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.0% | 0.7% | 1.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.5% | 0.0% | 1.0% | 6 |
Countries ranked near North America
- 27 Belize 1.7% compare
- 28 Congo 1.7% compare
- 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
More agriculture & rural data for North America
- Agricultural raw materials imports 0.7% (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 0.1578 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.1951 units per person (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 1.8% (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added 256.06 billion current US$ (2021)
- Rural population 74.83 million (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added 1.0% (2021)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 691.3 current US$ per person (2021)
- Rural population 19.5% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is rural population growth in North America?
- Rural population growth in North America was 0.2% in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest rural population growth recorded in North America?
- The highest recorded value was 1.2% in 1971.
- What is the lowest rural population growth recorded in North America?
- The lowest recorded value was -0.8% in 1996.
- How does North America rank for rural population growth?
- North America ranks 30th out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is rural population growth rising or falling in North America?
- Over the last ten years it is down 84.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this North America 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.