Rural population growth (annual %) in United States
United States: Rural population growth (annual %) 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 105th out of 210 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 (annual %) 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% |
United States compared with similar countries
- United States's 0.2% is above the median for high income countries, which is -0.3%. (77 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Rural population growth (annual %) in United States 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1969 | +582.1% | 0.0% | 0.3% |
| 1993 | -529.6% | -0.1% | -0.4% |
| 2022 | +314.3% | 0.1% | 0.4% |
| 1962 | -197.9% | 0.1% | -0.1% |
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
- 102 Angola 0.2% compare
- 103 Belgium 0.2% compare
- 104 Bolivia 0.2% compare
- 106 French Polynesia 0.1% compare
- 107 Faroe Islands 0.1% compare
- 108 Philippines 0.1% compare
More agriculture & rural data for United States
- Cropland extent over the long-term, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Cropland extent over the long-term, per unit of GDP 0 hectares per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Cropland extent over the long-term, per capita 0.4694 hectares per person (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, per unit of GDP 0 hectares per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, per capita 1.22 hectares per person (2025)
- 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)
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 105th out of 210 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.