Rural population (% of total population) (Rural World Urbanization) in Netherlands
Netherlands: Rural population (% of total population) (Rural World Urbanization) was 4.1% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Latest (2025)
4.1%
Change on year
down 6.9%
World rank
204th
of 218 countries
All-time high
40.1%
in 1960
All-time low
4.1%
in 2025
Years of data
66
1960–2025
Rural population in Netherlands, 1960–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN). Measured in % of total population.
Analysis
Netherlands recorded 4.1% for rural population in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 66 years on record.
The figure is down 6.9% on the previous year and down 58.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, rural population in Netherlands peaked at 40.1% in 1960 and was at its lowest, 4.1%, in 2025.
That places Netherlands 204th 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 Netherlands, year by year
| Year | % of total population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 40.1% | — |
| 1961 | 39.9% | -0.5% |
| 1962 | 39.7% | -0.4% |
| 1963 | 39.7% | -0.1% |
| 1964 | 39.1% | -1.3% |
| 1965 | 38.8% | -0.8% |
| 1966 | 38.7% | -0.4% |
| 1967 | 38.4% | -0.8% |
| 1968 | 38.2% | -0.4% |
| 1969 | 38.2% | -0.0% |
| 1970 | 37.9% | -0.7% |
| 1971 | 37.2% | -1.9% |
| 1972 | 36.9% | -0.7% |
| 1973 | 36.5% | -1.2% |
| 1974 | 35.8% | -1.9% |
| 1975 | 35.6% | -0.5% |
| 1976 | 35.5% | -0.3% |
| 1977 | 35.4% | -0.2% |
| 1978 | 35.4% | -0.1% |
| 1979 | 35.2% | -0.5% |
| 1980 | 35.0% | -0.5% |
| 1981 | 34.3% | -2.1% |
| 1982 | 33.5% | -2.1% |
| 1983 | 33.1% | -1.4% |
| 1984 | 32.6% | -1.3% |
| 1985 | 32.4% | -0.8% |
| 1986 | 32.0% | -1.1% |
| 1987 | 31.8% | -0.6% |
| 1988 | 31.6% | -0.8% |
| 1989 | 31.2% | -1.1% |
| 1990 | 31.0% | -0.7% |
| 1991 | 30.8% | -0.7% |
| 1992 | 30.7% | -0.3% |
| 1993 | 30.2% | -1.5% |
| 1994 | 29.6% | -2.2% |
| 1995 | 29.3% | -1.0% |
| 1996 | 27.6% | -5.9% |
| 1997 | 24.4% | -11.4% |
| 1998 | 23.2% | -4.9% |
| 1999 | 22.9% | -1.3% |
| 2000 | 21.5% | -6.2% |
| 2001 | 19.8% | -7.9% |
| 2002 | 19.2% | -3.2% |
| 2003 | 18.7% | -2.6% |
| 2004 | 17.7% | -5.1% |
| 2005 | 16.5% | -7.1% |
| 2006 | 15.3% | -7.0% |
| 2007 | 14.6% | -4.9% |
| 2008 | 14.4% | -1.4% |
| 2009 | 13.8% | -4.2% |
| 2010 | 12.6% | -8.2% |
| 2011 | 12.0% | -5.2% |
| 2012 | 11.5% | -4.4% |
| 2013 | 10.8% | -5.6% |
| 2014 | 10.2% | -6.1% |
| 2015 | 9.7% | -4.4% |
| 2016 | 9.4% | -3.1% |
| 2017 | 8.9% | -5.8% |
| 2018 | 7.4% | -16.7% |
| 2019 | 6.1% | -17.4% |
| 2020 | 5.7% | -5.9% |
| 2021 | 5.4% | -6.5% |
| 2022 | 5.0% | -6.6% |
| 2023 | 4.7% | -6.7% |
| 2024 | 4.4% | -6.8% |
| 2025 | 4.1% | -6.9% |
Netherlands compared with similar countries
- Netherlands's 4.1% is below the median for high income countries, which is 18.7%, 22% of the median. (85 countries reporting)
- Netherlands's 4.1% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 30.4%, 13% of the median. (57 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 39.1% | 38.2% | 40.1% | 10 |
| 1970s | 36.1% | 35.2% | 37.9% | 10 |
| 1980s | 32.8% | 31.2% | 35.0% | 10 |
| 1990s | 28.0% | 22.9% | 31.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 17.2% | 13.8% | 21.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 9.9% | 6.1% | 12.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.9% | 4.1% | 5.7% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Netherlands
- 201 United States Virgin Islands 4.6% compare
- 202 Uruguay 4.3% compare
- 203 Malta 4.3% compare
- 205 San Marino 2.8% compare
- 206 Qatar 0.6% compare
- 207 Bahrain 0.0% compare
- 207 Bermuda 0.0% compare
- 207 Cayman Islands 0.0%
- 207 Gibraltar 0.0%
- 207 Hong Kong 0.0% compare
- 207 Kuwait 0.0% compare
- 207 Macao 0.0% compare
- 207 Monaco 0.0%
- 207 Nauru 0.0%
- 207 Singapore 0.0%
- 207 Sint Maarten (Dutch part) 0.0%
- 207 Saint Martin (French part) 0.0%
More agriculture & rural data for Netherlands
- Cropland extent over the long-term, annual growth rate -0.4158 % 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 0.0567 hectares per person (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, annual growth rate -0.2326 % 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 0.0991 hectares per person (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 6.75 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0168 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 1,240 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate -6.37 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is rural population in Netherlands?
- Rural population in Netherlands was 4.1% in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest rural population recorded in Netherlands?
- The highest recorded value was 40.1% in 1960.
- What is the lowest rural population recorded in Netherlands?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.1% in 2025.
- How does Netherlands rank for rural population?
- Netherlands ranks 204th out of 218 countries with data for 2025.
- Is rural population rising or falling in Netherlands?
- Over the last ten years it is down 58.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Netherlands 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.