Rural population growth in United States
United States: Rural population growth was 0.2% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Rural population growth in United States, 1961–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN). Measured in annual %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for rural population growth in United States is 0.2%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of down 73.6% on the previous year and down 83.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, rural population growth in United States peaked at 1.3% in 2019 and was at its lowest, -0.9%, in 1996.
That places United States 104th 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 States, year by year
| Year | annual % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 0.1% | — |
| 1962 | -0.1% | -197.9% |
| 1963 | -0.2% | +122.2% |
| 1964 | -0.2% | +8.3% |
| 1965 | -0.3% | +24.9% |
| 1966 | -0.2% | -14.9% |
| 1967 | -0.1% | -53.5% |
| 1968 | 0.0% | -144.7% |
| 1969 | 0.3% | +582.1% |
| 1970 | 0.9% | +159.6% |
| 1971 | 1.1% | +29.0% |
| 1972 | 1.0% | -14.6% |
| 1973 | 0.9% | -9.3% |
| 1974 | 0.8% | -2.7% |
| 1975 | 0.9% | +9.6% |
| 1976 | 0.9% | -3.9% |
| 1977 | 0.9% | +5.1% |
| 1978 | 1.0% | +3.7% |
| 1979 | 1.0% | +1.6% |
| 1980 | 0.8% | -18.9% |
| 1981 | 0.7% | -7.5% |
| 1982 | 0.6% | -17.5% |
| 1983 | 0.5% | -21.2% |
| 1984 | 0.3% | -27.3% |
| 1985 | 0.3% | -15.6% |
| 1986 | 0.3% | -9.9% |
| 1987 | 0.2% | -33.8% |
| 1988 | 0.1% | -21.2% |
| 1989 | 0.1% | -5.1% |
| 1990 | 0.3% | +94.0% |
| 1991 | 0.2% | -13.7% |
| 1992 | -0.1% | -127.2% |
| 1993 | -0.4% | +529.6% |
| 1994 | -0.7% | +72.3% |
| 1995 | -0.8% | +22.0% |
| 1996 | -0.9% | +7.1% |
| 1997 | -0.8% | -11.4% |
| 1998 | -0.6% | -14.6% |
| 1999 | -0.4% | -35.6% |
| 2000 | -0.1% | -68.6% |
| 2001 | -0.1% | +5.3% |
| 2002 | -0.2% | +64.9% |
| 2003 | -0.3% | +22.5% |
| 2004 | -0.2% | -41.6% |
| 2005 | -0.1% | -48.5% |
| 2006 | 0.1% | -191.0% |
| 2007 | 0.2% | +182.8% |
| 2008 | 0.4% | +84.9% |
| 2009 | 0.6% | +38.7% |
| 2010 | 0.8% | +39.8% |
| 2011 | 0.8% | +5.6% |
| 2012 | 0.9% | +5.8% |
| 2013 | 0.9% | +1.7% |
| 2014 | 1.0% | +12.6% |
| 2015 | 1.1% | +8.9% |
| 2016 | 1.2% | +8.2% |
| 2017 | 1.2% | +1.9% |
| 2018 | 1.2% | +1.8% |
| 2019 | 1.3% | +5.7% |
| 2020 | 1.1% | -15.5% |
| 2021 | 0.1% | -90.0% |
| 2022 | 0.4% | +314.3% |
| 2023 | 0.6% | +41.1% |
| 2024 | 0.7% | +10.5% |
| 2025 | 0.2% | -73.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | -0.1% | -0.3% | 0.3% | 9 |
| 1970s | 0.9% | 0.8% | 1.1% | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.4% | 0.1% | 0.8% | 10 |
| 1990s | -0.4% | -0.9% | 0.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.0% | -0.3% | 0.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.0% | 0.8% | 1.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.5% | 0.1% | 1.1% | 6 |
Countries ranked near United States
- 101 Angola 0.2% compare
- 102 Belgium 0.2% compare
- 103 Bolivia, Plurinational State of 0.2% compare
- 105 French Polynesia 0.1% compare
- 106 Faroe Islands 0.1% compare
- 107 Philippines 0.1% compare
More agriculture & rural data for United States
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 11.96 % change on previous year (2021)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0094 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2021)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 673.66 current US$ per person (2021)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 0.1831 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.1981 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 0.9% (2021)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 0.9% (2021)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 1.6% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 0.8% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is rural population growth in United States?
- Rural population growth in United States was 0.2% in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest rural population growth recorded in United States?
- The highest recorded value was 1.3% in 2019.
- What is the lowest rural population growth recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was -0.9% in 1996.
- How does United States rank for rural population growth?
- United States ranks 104th out of 209 countries with data for 2025.
- Is rural population growth rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is down 83.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United States 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.