Rural population (% of total population) (Rural World Urbanization) in Germany
Germany: Rural population (% of total population) (Rural World Urbanization) was 17.9% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Rural population in Germany, 1960–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN). Measured in % of total population.
Analysis
Germany recorded 17.9% for rural population in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 66 years on record.
That represents a change of down 0.7% on the previous year and down 7.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, rural population in Germany peaked at 24.3% in 1960 and was at its lowest, 17.9%, in 2025.
Germany ranks 167th 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 Germany, year by year
| Year | % of total population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 24.3% | — |
| 1961 | 23.8% | -1.9% |
| 1962 | 23.3% | -2.1% |
| 1963 | 22.8% | -2.3% |
| 1964 | 22.3% | -2.3% |
| 1965 | 21.7% | -2.3% |
| 1966 | 21.3% | -2.1% |
| 1967 | 20.9% | -1.9% |
| 1968 | 20.6% | -1.4% |
| 1969 | 20.4% | -0.9% |
| 1970 | 20.3% | -0.3% |
| 1971 | 20.3% | -0.2% |
| 1972 | 20.3% | -0.2% |
| 1973 | 20.2% | -0.2% |
| 1974 | 20.2% | -0.1% |
| 1975 | 20.2% | -0.1% |
| 1976 | 20.2% | -0.1% |
| 1977 | 20.1% | -0.1% |
| 1978 | 20.1% | -0.1% |
| 1979 | 20.1% | -0.1% |
| 1980 | 20.1% | -0.1% |
| 1981 | 20.1% | -0.1% |
| 1982 | 20.1% | -0.1% |
| 1983 | 20.0% | -0.1% |
| 1984 | 20.0% | -0.1% |
| 1985 | 20.0% | -0.0% |
| 1986 | 20.0% | -0.0% |
| 1987 | 20.0% | -0.0% |
| 1988 | 20.0% | -0.0% |
| 1989 | 20.0% | -0.0% |
| 1990 | 20.0% | -0.0% |
| 1991 | 20.0% | -0.0% |
| 1992 | 20.0% | -0.0% |
| 1993 | 20.0% | -0.0% |
| 1994 | 20.0% | -0.0% |
| 1995 | 20.0% | -0.0% |
| 1996 | 19.9% | -0.0% |
| 1997 | 19.9% | -0.0% |
| 1998 | 19.9% | -0.0% |
| 1999 | 19.9% | -0.1% |
| 2000 | 19.9% | -0.1% |
| 2001 | 19.9% | -0.1% |
| 2002 | 19.9% | -0.1% |
| 2003 | 19.9% | -0.1% |
| 2004 | 19.8% | -0.1% |
| 2005 | 19.8% | -0.1% |
| 2006 | 19.8% | -0.1% |
| 2007 | 19.8% | -0.1% |
| 2008 | 19.8% | -0.1% |
| 2009 | 19.7% | -0.1% |
| 2010 | 19.7% | -0.2% |
| 2011 | 19.7% | -0.2% |
| 2012 | 19.6% | -0.3% |
| 2013 | 19.5% | -0.4% |
| 2014 | 19.4% | -0.5% |
| 2015 | 19.3% | -0.6% |
| 2016 | 19.2% | -0.7% |
| 2017 | 19.0% | -0.8% |
| 2018 | 18.9% | -0.8% |
| 2019 | 18.7% | -0.9% |
| 2020 | 18.5% | -0.9% |
| 2021 | 18.4% | -0.9% |
| 2022 | 18.2% | -0.8% |
| 2023 | 18.1% | -0.6% |
| 2024 | 18.0% | -0.7% |
| 2025 | 17.9% | -0.7% |
Germany compared with similar countries
- Germany's 17.9% is below the median for high income countries, which is 18.7%, 96% of the median. (85 countries reporting)
- Germany's 17.9% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 30.4%, 59% of the median. (57 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 22.1% | 20.4% | 24.3% | 10 |
| 1970s | 20.2% | 20.1% | 20.3% | 10 |
| 1980s | 20.0% | 20.0% | 20.1% | 10 |
| 1990s | 20.0% | 19.9% | 20.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 19.8% | 19.7% | 19.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 19.3% | 18.7% | 19.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 18.2% | 17.9% | 18.5% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Germany
More agriculture & rural data for Germany
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 2.73 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0087 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 527.18 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate -0.6813 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.1786 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 0.9% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 0.9% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 0.7% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 1.0% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is rural population in Germany?
- Rural population in Germany was 17.9% in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest rural population recorded in Germany?
- The highest recorded value was 24.3% in 1960.
- What is the lowest rural population recorded in Germany?
- The lowest recorded value was 17.9% in 2025.
- How does Germany rank for rural population?
- Germany ranks 167th out of 218 countries with data for 2025.
- Is rural population rising or falling in Germany?
- Over the last ten years it is down 7.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Germany 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.