Rural population (% of total population) (Rural World Urbanization) in Canada
Canada: Rural population (% of total population) (Rural World Urbanization) was 17.1% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Rural population in Canada, 1960–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN). Measured in % of total population.
Analysis
In 2025, rural population in Canada stood at 17.1%. That is the lowest value across all 66 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.0% on the previous year and down 8.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, rural population in Canada peaked at 31.0% in 1960 and was at its lowest, 17.1%, in 2025.
That places Canada 168th out of 218 countries with data for 2025, putting it 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 Canada, year by year
| Year | % of total population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 31.0% | — |
| 1961 | 30.3% | -2.1% |
| 1962 | 29.6% | -2.5% |
| 1963 | 28.7% | -2.8% |
| 1964 | 27.9% | -3.0% |
| 1965 | 27.1% | -2.9% |
| 1966 | 26.4% | -2.5% |
| 1967 | 25.7% | -2.5% |
| 1968 | 25.0% | -2.6% |
| 1969 | 24.5% | -2.3% |
| 1970 | 24.1% | -1.7% |
| 1971 | 23.9% | -0.6% |
| 1972 | 24.0% | +0.3% |
| 1973 | 24.1% | +0.6% |
| 1974 | 24.3% | +0.7% |
| 1975 | 24.4% | +0.5% |
| 1976 | 24.5% | +0.2% |
| 1977 | 24.5% | -0.1% |
| 1978 | 24.4% | -0.1% |
| 1979 | 24.4% | -0.2% |
| 1980 | 24.3% | -0.2% |
| 1981 | 24.3% | -0.3% |
| 1982 | 24.1% | -0.5% |
| 1983 | 24.0% | -0.7% |
| 1984 | 23.8% | -0.8% |
| 1985 | 23.6% | -0.7% |
| 1986 | 23.5% | -0.4% |
| 1987 | 23.5% | -0.1% |
| 1988 | 23.5% | -0.1% |
| 1989 | 23.5% | -0.1% |
| 1990 | 23.4% | -0.1% |
| 1991 | 23.4% | -0.2% |
| 1992 | 23.3% | -0.6% |
| 1993 | 23.0% | -1.1% |
| 1994 | 22.7% | -1.4% |
| 1995 | 22.4% | -1.4% |
| 1996 | 22.1% | -1.1% |
| 1997 | 21.9% | -0.9% |
| 1998 | 21.7% | -0.8% |
| 1999 | 21.6% | -0.8% |
| 2000 | 21.4% | -0.9% |
| 2001 | 21.2% | -1.0% |
| 2002 | 20.9% | -1.2% |
| 2003 | 20.6% | -1.4% |
| 2004 | 20.3% | -1.5% |
| 2005 | 20.0% | -1.4% |
| 2006 | 19.8% | -1.2% |
| 2007 | 19.6% | -1.1% |
| 2008 | 19.3% | -1.1% |
| 2009 | 19.1% | -1.0% |
| 2010 | 19.0% | -0.8% |
| 2011 | 18.9% | -0.5% |
| 2012 | 18.8% | -0.3% |
| 2013 | 18.8% | -0.2% |
| 2014 | 18.8% | -0.1% |
| 2015 | 18.8% | -0.2% |
| 2016 | 18.7% | -0.3% |
| 2017 | 18.6% | -0.5% |
| 2018 | 18.4% | -0.8% |
| 2019 | 18.3% | -1.0% |
| 2020 | 18.0% | -1.2% |
| 2021 | 17.8% | -1.3% |
| 2022 | 17.6% | -1.0% |
| 2023 | 17.5% | -1.0% |
| 2024 | 17.3% | -1.0% |
| 2025 | 17.1% | -1.0% |
Canada compared with similar countries
- Canada's 17.1% is below the median for high income countries, which is 18.7%, 92% of the median. (85 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 27.6% | 24.5% | 31.0% | 10 |
| 1970s | 24.2% | 23.9% | 24.5% | 10 |
| 1980s | 23.8% | 23.5% | 24.3% | 10 |
| 1990s | 22.5% | 21.6% | 23.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 20.2% | 19.1% | 21.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 18.7% | 18.3% | 19.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 17.6% | 17.1% | 18.0% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Canada
- 165 South Korea 18.8% compare
- 166 Bahamas 18.7% compare
- 167 Germany 17.9% compare
- 169 United Kingdom 16.7% compare
- 170 Norway 16.4% compare
- 171 New Zealand 16.0% compare
More agriculture & rural data for Canada
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 31.61 % change on previous year (2022)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0193 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2022)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 1,092 current US$ per person (2022)
- Rural population, annual growth rate -0.0803 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.1712 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 1.9% (2022)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 1.9% (2022)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 2.7% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 0.7% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is rural population in Canada?
- Rural population in Canada was 17.1% in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest rural population recorded in Canada?
- The highest recorded value was 31.0% in 1960.
- What is the lowest rural population recorded in Canada?
- The lowest recorded value was 17.1% in 2025.
- How does Canada rank for rural population?
- Canada ranks 168th out of 218 countries with data for 2025.
- Is rural population rising or falling in Canada?
- Over the last ten years it is down 8.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Canada 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.