Rural population (% of total population) (Rural World Urbanization) in Australia
Australia: Rural population (% of total population) (Rural World Urbanization) was 12.3% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Rural population in Australia, 1960–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN). Measured in % of total population.
Analysis
The most recent figure for rural population in Australia is 12.3%, measured in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 66 years on record.
That represents a change of down 0.9% on the previous year and down 6.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, rural population in Australia peaked at 18.4% in 1960 and was at its lowest, 12.3%, in 2025.
Australia ranks 178th of 218 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 66 years of available data.
Rural population (% of total population) (Rural World Urbanization) in Australia, year by year
| Year | % of total population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 18.4% | — |
| 1961 | 18.1% | -1.9% |
| 1962 | 17.8% | -1.6% |
| 1963 | 17.5% | -1.3% |
| 1964 | 17.3% | -1.2% |
| 1965 | 17.1% | -1.4% |
| 1966 | 16.8% | -1.7% |
| 1967 | 16.4% | -2.6% |
| 1968 | 15.8% | -3.4% |
| 1969 | 15.2% | -3.7% |
| 1970 | 14.7% | -3.2% |
| 1971 | 14.4% | -1.9% |
| 1972 | 14.3% | -1.0% |
| 1973 | 14.2% | -0.8% |
| 1974 | 14.1% | -0.7% |
| 1975 | 14.0% | -0.4% |
| 1976 | 14.0% | -0.2% |
| 1977 | 14.0% | +0.1% |
| 1978 | 14.1% | +0.4% |
| 1979 | 14.1% | +0.5% |
| 1980 | 14.2% | +0.5% |
| 1981 | 14.3% | +0.5% |
| 1982 | 14.4% | +0.5% |
| 1983 | 14.5% | +0.6% |
| 1984 | 14.6% | +0.6% |
| 1985 | 14.6% | +0.5% |
| 1986 | 14.6% | +0.2% |
| 1987 | 14.6% | -0.0% |
| 1988 | 14.6% | -0.1% |
| 1989 | 14.6% | -0.1% |
| 1990 | 14.6% | -0.1% |
| 1991 | 14.6% | -0.0% |
| 1992 | 14.6% | +0.1% |
| 1993 | 14.6% | +0.2% |
| 1994 | 14.7% | +0.2% |
| 1995 | 14.7% | +0.3% |
| 1996 | 14.8% | +0.3% |
| 1997 | 14.8% | +0.3% |
| 1998 | 14.8% | +0.3% |
| 1999 | 14.9% | +0.2% |
| 2000 | 14.9% | +0.1% |
| 2001 | 14.9% | -0.3% |
| 2002 | 14.7% | -0.9% |
| 2003 | 14.6% | -0.9% |
| 2004 | 14.5% | -0.7% |
| 2005 | 14.4% | -0.7% |
| 2006 | 14.3% | -0.9% |
| 2007 | 14.1% | -1.0% |
| 2008 | 14.0% | -0.9% |
| 2009 | 13.9% | -0.7% |
| 2010 | 13.8% | -0.7% |
| 2011 | 13.7% | -0.8% |
| 2012 | 13.6% | -0.9% |
| 2013 | 13.4% | -1.0% |
| 2014 | 13.3% | -1.1% |
| 2015 | 13.1% | -1.2% |
| 2016 | 13.0% | -1.1% |
| 2017 | 12.9% | -0.9% |
| 2018 | 12.8% | -0.8% |
| 2019 | 12.7% | -0.6% |
| 2020 | 12.7% | +0.2% |
| 2021 | 12.8% | +0.3% |
| 2022 | 12.7% | -0.8% |
| 2023 | 12.5% | -1.2% |
| 2024 | 12.4% | -0.9% |
| 2025 | 12.3% | -0.9% |
Australia compared with similar countries
- Australia's 12.3% is below the median for high income countries, which is 18.7%, 66% of the median. (85 countries reporting)
- Australia's 12.3% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 34.6%, 36% of the median. (37 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 17.0% | 15.2% | 18.4% | 10 |
| 1970s | 14.2% | 14.0% | 14.7% | 10 |
| 1980s | 14.5% | 14.2% | 14.6% | 10 |
| 1990s | 14.7% | 14.6% | 14.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 14.4% | 13.9% | 14.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 13.2% | 12.7% | 13.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 12.6% | 12.3% | 12.8% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Australia
More agriculture & rural data for Australia
- Cropland extent over the long-term, annual growth rate 0.4449 % 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 1.16 hectares per person (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, annual growth rate 0.2372 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, per unit of GDP 0.0002 hectares per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, per capita 12.7 hectares per person (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 13.97 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0227 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 1,476 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 0.5855 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is rural population in Australia?
- Rural population in Australia was 12.3% in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest rural population recorded in Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 18.4% in 1960.
- What is the lowest rural population recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was 12.3% in 2025.
- How does Australia rank for rural population?
- Australia ranks 178th out of 218 countries with data for 2025.
- Is rural population rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 6.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Australia data come from?
- The figures come from World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN), published as part of Rural population (% of total population). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
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.