Rural population (% of total population) (Rural World Urbanization) in Brazil
Brazil: Rural population (% of total population) (Rural World Urbanization) was 11.8% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Rural population in Brazil, 1960–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN). Measured in % of total population.
Analysis
The most recent figure for rural population in Brazil is 11.8%, measured in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 66 years on record.
That represents a change of down 2.3% on the previous year and down 17.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, rural population in Brazil peaked at 55.3% in 1960 and was at its lowest, 11.8%, in 2025.
Brazil ranks 180th 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 Brazil, year by year
| Year | % of total population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 55.3% | — |
| 1961 | 54.5% | -1.5% |
| 1962 | 53.7% | -1.5% |
| 1963 | 52.9% | -1.5% |
| 1964 | 52.1% | -1.5% |
| 1965 | 51.3% | -1.5% |
| 1966 | 50.5% | -1.6% |
| 1967 | 49.7% | -1.7% |
| 1968 | 48.8% | -1.8% |
| 1969 | 47.8% | -1.9% |
| 1970 | 46.8% | -2.1% |
| 1971 | 45.7% | -2.4% |
| 1972 | 44.3% | -2.9% |
| 1973 | 42.9% | -3.3% |
| 1974 | 41.3% | -3.7% |
| 1975 | 39.7% | -3.9% |
| 1976 | 38.1% | -4.1% |
| 1977 | 36.5% | -4.1% |
| 1978 | 35.0% | -4.0% |
| 1979 | 33.7% | -3.8% |
| 1980 | 32.6% | -3.3% |
| 1981 | 31.6% | -2.9% |
| 1982 | 30.7% | -2.8% |
| 1983 | 29.9% | -2.7% |
| 1984 | 29.1% | -2.6% |
| 1985 | 28.4% | -2.5% |
| 1986 | 27.7% | -2.5% |
| 1987 | 27.0% | -2.4% |
| 1988 | 26.4% | -2.4% |
| 1989 | 25.8% | -2.4% |
| 1990 | 25.1% | -2.4% |
| 1991 | 24.5% | -2.5% |
| 1992 | 23.9% | -2.4% |
| 1993 | 23.4% | -2.3% |
| 1994 | 22.8% | -2.3% |
| 1995 | 22.3% | -2.4% |
| 1996 | 21.7% | -2.6% |
| 1997 | 21.0% | -3.2% |
| 1998 | 20.2% | -3.8% |
| 1999 | 19.5% | -3.7% |
| 2000 | 18.9% | -3.1% |
| 2001 | 18.4% | -2.4% |
| 2002 | 18.0% | -2.2% |
| 2003 | 17.6% | -2.0% |
| 2004 | 17.3% | -1.9% |
| 2005 | 17.0% | -1.7% |
| 2006 | 16.7% | -1.7% |
| 2007 | 16.5% | -1.6% |
| 2008 | 16.2% | -1.6% |
| 2009 | 15.9% | -1.6% |
| 2010 | 15.7% | -1.7% |
| 2011 | 15.4% | -1.8% |
| 2012 | 15.1% | -1.8% |
| 2013 | 14.8% | -1.8% |
| 2014 | 14.6% | -1.8% |
| 2015 | 14.3% | -1.8% |
| 2016 | 14.1% | -1.8% |
| 2017 | 13.8% | -1.8% |
| 2018 | 13.6% | -1.8% |
| 2019 | 13.3% | -1.8% |
| 2020 | 13.1% | -1.7% |
| 2021 | 12.9% | -1.7% |
| 2022 | 12.7% | -1.7% |
| 2023 | 12.4% | -2.1% |
| 2024 | 12.1% | -2.3% |
| 2025 | 11.8% | -2.3% |
Brazil compared with similar countries
- Brazil's 11.8% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 34.6%, 34% of the median. (59 countries reporting)
- Brazil's 11.8% is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 28.0%, 42% of the median. (42 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 51.7% | 47.8% | 55.3% | 10 |
| 1970s | 40.4% | 33.7% | 46.8% | 10 |
| 1980s | 28.9% | 25.8% | 32.6% | 10 |
| 1990s | 22.4% | 19.5% | 25.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 17.3% | 15.9% | 18.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 14.5% | 13.3% | 15.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 12.5% | 11.8% | 13.1% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Brazil
More agriculture & rural data for Brazil
- Cropland extent over the long-term, annual growth rate 0.6576 % 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 0.2918 hectares per person (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, annual growth rate 1.12 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, per unit of GDP 0.0001 hectares per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, per capita 1.28 hectares per person (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 10.36 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0609 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 652.04 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate -1.95 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is rural population in Brazil?
- Rural population in Brazil was 11.8% in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest rural population recorded in Brazil?
- The highest recorded value was 55.3% in 1960.
- What is the lowest rural population recorded in Brazil?
- The lowest recorded value was 11.8% in 2025.
- How does Brazil rank for rural population?
- Brazil ranks 180th out of 218 countries with data for 2025.
- Is rural population rising or falling in Brazil?
- Over the last ten years it is down 17.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Brazil 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.