Rural population growth in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Rural population growth was -0.2% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Rural population growth in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 1961–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN). Measured in annual %.
Analysis
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland recorded -0.2% for rural population growth in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 130.8% on the previous year and up 40.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, rural population growth in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland peaked at 1.7% in 1962 and was at its lowest, -1.2%, in 2020.
That places United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 126th 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 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, year by year
| Year | annual % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 1.6% | — |
| 1962 | 1.7% | +3.6% |
| 1963 | 1.6% | -2.2% |
| 1964 | 1.6% | -4.9% |
| 1965 | 1.5% | -1.7% |
| 1966 | 1.4% | -9.4% |
| 1967 | 1.3% | -7.2% |
| 1968 | 1.1% | -13.3% |
| 1969 | 0.9% | -20.0% |
| 1970 | 0.7% | -22.6% |
| 1971 | 0.5% | -29.5% |
| 1972 | 0.1% | -87.4% |
| 1973 | -0.4% | -804.8% |
| 1974 | -0.8% | +90.2% |
| 1975 | -1.1% | +29.7% |
| 1976 | -1.2% | +9.6% |
| 1977 | -1.2% | +0.1% |
| 1978 | -1.0% | -12.1% |
| 1979 | -0.7% | -28.0% |
| 1980 | -0.4% | -45.2% |
| 1981 | -0.1% | -77.3% |
| 1982 | 0.1% | -161.6% |
| 1983 | 0.2% | +309.3% |
| 1984 | 0.4% | +86.2% |
| 1985 | 0.5% | +27.0% |
| 1986 | 0.6% | +4.6% |
| 1987 | 0.5% | -4.5% |
| 1988 | 0.5% | -4.5% |
| 1989 | 0.5% | -4.3% |
| 1990 | 0.5% | -9.7% |
| 1991 | 0.3% | -24.5% |
| 1992 | 0.0% | -91.6% |
| 1993 | -0.3% | -1181.4% |
| 1994 | -0.5% | +74.9% |
| 1995 | -0.7% | +33.0% |
| 1996 | -0.9% | +19.4% |
| 1997 | -0.9% | +7.6% |
| 1998 | -0.9% | -3.2% |
| 1999 | -0.8% | -11.7% |
| 2000 | -0.6% | -19.8% |
| 2001 | -0.4% | -35.7% |
| 2002 | -0.2% | -43.3% |
| 2003 | -0.1% | -43.0% |
| 2004 | 0.0% | -111.4% |
| 2005 | 0.2% | +957.5% |
| 2006 | 0.2% | +36.3% |
| 2007 | 0.3% | +16.3% |
| 2008 | 0.2% | -7.1% |
| 2009 | 0.2% | -32.1% |
| 2010 | 0.1% | -22.9% |
| 2011 | 0.0% | -69.3% |
| 2012 | -0.1% | -392.2% |
| 2013 | -0.2% | +105.7% |
| 2014 | -0.2% | -4.0% |
| 2015 | -0.3% | +42.7% |
| 2016 | -0.3% | -2.3% |
| 2017 | -0.6% | +102.8% |
| 2018 | -0.7% | +18.8% |
| 2019 | -0.8% | +4.6% |
| 2020 | -1.2% | +52.2% |
| 2021 | -0.2% | -86.0% |
| 2022 | 0.5% | -384.8% |
| 2023 | 0.8% | +72.6% |
| 2024 | 0.6% | -25.1% |
| 2025 | -0.2% | -130.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 1.4% | 0.9% | 1.7% | 9 |
| 1970s | -0.5% | -1.2% | 0.7% | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.3% | -0.4% | 0.6% | 10 |
| 1990s | -0.4% | -0.9% | 0.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | -0.0% | -0.6% | 0.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | -0.3% | -0.8% | 0.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.1% | -1.2% | 0.8% | 6 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
More agriculture & rural data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 8.26 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0064 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 368.63 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate -0.1852 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.1668 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 0.6% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 0.6% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 0.4% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 1.1% (2025)
All data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland →
Frequently asked questions
- What is rural population growth in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- Rural population growth in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was -0.2% in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest rural population growth recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 1.7% in 1962.
- What is the lowest rural population growth recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was -1.2% in 2020.
- How does United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank for rural population growth?
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 126th out of 209 countries with data for 2025.
- Is rural population growth rising or falling in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 40.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 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.