Rural population (% of total population) (Rural World Urbanization) in North Macedonia
North Macedonia: Rural population (% of total population) (Rural World Urbanization) was 37.1% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Rural population in North Macedonia, 1960–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN). Measured in % of total population.
Analysis
In 2025, rural population in North Macedonia stood at 37.1%. 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 9.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, rural population in North Macedonia peaked at 66.0% in 1960 and was at its lowest, 37.1%, in 2025.
North Macedonia ranks 103rd of 218 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 66 years of available data.
Rural population (% of total population) (Rural World Urbanization) in North Macedonia, year by year
| Year | % of total population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 66.0% | — |
| 1961 | 64.8% | -1.8% |
| 1962 | 63.5% | -2.0% |
| 1963 | 62.1% | -2.2% |
| 1964 | 60.6% | -2.4% |
| 1965 | 59.1% | -2.5% |
| 1966 | 57.6% | -2.5% |
| 1967 | 56.2% | -2.5% |
| 1968 | 54.9% | -2.4% |
| 1969 | 53.6% | -2.2% |
| 1970 | 52.6% | -2.0% |
| 1971 | 51.7% | -1.7% |
| 1972 | 50.9% | -1.5% |
| 1973 | 50.2% | -1.4% |
| 1974 | 49.6% | -1.3% |
| 1975 | 49.0% | -1.2% |
| 1976 | 48.4% | -1.1% |
| 1977 | 47.9% | -1.1% |
| 1978 | 47.4% | -1.1% |
| 1979 | 46.9% | -1.0% |
| 1980 | 46.5% | -1.0% |
| 1981 | 46.0% | -1.0% |
| 1982 | 45.5% | -1.0% |
| 1983 | 45.1% | -0.9% |
| 1984 | 44.8% | -0.8% |
| 1985 | 44.4% | -0.8% |
| 1986 | 44.1% | -0.8% |
| 1987 | 43.7% | -0.8% |
| 1988 | 43.3% | -0.8% |
| 1989 | 42.9% | -0.9% |
| 1990 | 42.5% | -1.0% |
| 1991 | 42.1% | -1.1% |
| 1992 | 41.4% | -1.5% |
| 1993 | 40.6% | -1.9% |
| 1994 | 40.2% | -1.0% |
| 1995 | 40.3% | +0.1% |
| 1996 | 40.3% | +0.2% |
| 1997 | 40.4% | +0.2% |
| 1998 | 40.7% | +0.6% |
| 1999 | 41.1% | +1.0% |
| 2000 | 41.5% | +1.1% |
| 2001 | 41.9% | +1.0% |
| 2002 | 42.1% | +0.5% |
| 2003 | 42.1% | +0.1% |
| 2004 | 42.1% | -0.0% |
| 2005 | 42.1% | -0.0% |
| 2006 | 42.1% | -0.0% |
| 2007 | 42.1% | -0.1% |
| 2008 | 42.0% | -0.1% |
| 2009 | 42.0% | -0.2% |
| 2010 | 41.9% | -0.2% |
| 2011 | 41.8% | -0.3% |
| 2012 | 41.6% | -0.4% |
| 2013 | 41.4% | -0.4% |
| 2014 | 41.2% | -0.5% |
| 2015 | 40.9% | -0.6% |
| 2016 | 40.6% | -0.8% |
| 2017 | 40.3% | -0.9% |
| 2018 | 39.8% | -1.0% |
| 2019 | 39.4% | -1.2% |
| 2020 | 38.8% | -1.3% |
| 2021 | 38.3% | -1.4% |
| 2022 | 38.0% | -0.7% |
| 2023 | 37.7% | -0.8% |
| 2024 | 37.4% | -0.8% |
| 2025 | 37.1% | -0.9% |
North Macedonia compared with similar countries
- North Macedonia's 37.1% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 34.6%, 1.1× the median. (59 countries reporting)
- North Macedonia's 37.1% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 30.4%, 1.2× the median. (57 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 59.8% | 53.6% | 66.0% | 10 |
| 1970s | 49.5% | 46.9% | 52.6% | 10 |
| 1980s | 44.6% | 42.9% | 46.5% | 10 |
| 1990s | 41.0% | 40.2% | 42.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 42.0% | 41.5% | 42.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 40.9% | 39.4% | 41.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 37.9% | 37.1% | 38.8% | 6 |
Countries ranked near North Macedonia
More agriculture & rural data for North Macedonia
- Cropland extent over the long-term, annual growth rate -0.1759 % 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 0.2493 hectares per person (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, annual growth rate -0.1515 % 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 0.6876 hectares per person (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 10.72 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0598 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 626.97 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate -1.06 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is rural population in North Macedonia?
- Rural population in North Macedonia was 37.1% in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest rural population recorded in North Macedonia?
- The highest recorded value was 66.0% in 1960.
- What is the lowest rural population recorded in North Macedonia?
- The lowest recorded value was 37.1% in 2025.
- How does North Macedonia rank for rural population?
- North Macedonia ranks 103rd out of 218 countries with data for 2025.
- Is rural population rising or falling in North Macedonia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 9.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this North Macedonia 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.
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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.