Rural population (% of total population) (Rural World Urbanization) in OECD members
OECD members: Rural population (% of total population) (Rural World Urbanization) was 18.7% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Rural population in OECD members, 1960–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN). Measured in % of total population.
Analysis
OECD members recorded 18.7% for rural population in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 66 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.7% on the previous year and down 5.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, rural population in OECD members peaked at 38.4% in 1960 and was at its lowest, 18.7%, in 2025.
OECD members ranks 44th of 47 groups 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 OECD members, year by year
| Year | % of total population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 38.4% | — |
| 1961 | 37.9% | -1.3% |
| 1962 | 37.4% | -1.4% |
| 1963 | 36.8% | -1.5% |
| 1964 | 36.2% | -1.5% |
| 1965 | 35.7% | -1.6% |
| 1966 | 35.1% | -1.6% |
| 1967 | 34.6% | -1.6% |
| 1968 | 34.0% | -1.5% |
| 1969 | 33.5% | -1.5% |
| 1970 | 33.1% | -1.3% |
| 1971 | 32.7% | -1.3% |
| 1972 | 32.3% | -1.2% |
| 1973 | 31.9% | -1.2% |
| 1974 | 31.5% | -1.2% |
| 1975 | 31.2% | -1.0% |
| 1976 | 30.9% | -0.9% |
| 1977 | 30.6% | -0.9% |
| 1978 | 30.4% | -0.8% |
| 1979 | 30.1% | -0.8% |
| 1980 | 29.9% | -0.9% |
| 1981 | 29.6% | -0.9% |
| 1982 | 29.4% | -0.8% |
| 1983 | 29.1% | -0.9% |
| 1984 | 28.8% | -0.9% |
| 1985 | 28.6% | -0.9% |
| 1986 | 28.3% | -0.9% |
| 1987 | 28.0% | -1.0% |
| 1988 | 27.8% | -1.0% |
| 1989 | 27.5% | -1.0% |
| 1990 | 27.2% | -1.0% |
| 1991 | 27.0% | -1.0% |
| 1992 | 26.7% | -1.0% |
| 1993 | 26.4% | -1.1% |
| 1994 | 26.1% | -1.1% |
| 1995 | 25.8% | -1.1% |
| 1996 | 25.5% | -1.2% |
| 1997 | 25.2% | -1.2% |
| 1998 | 24.9% | -1.1% |
| 1999 | 24.7% | -1.0% |
| 2000 | 24.4% | -1.1% |
| 2001 | 24.1% | -1.3% |
| 2002 | 23.7% | -1.6% |
| 2003 | 23.3% | -1.8% |
| 2004 | 22.9% | -1.8% |
| 2005 | 22.5% | -1.6% |
| 2006 | 22.2% | -1.3% |
| 2007 | 21.9% | -1.2% |
| 2008 | 21.7% | -1.2% |
| 2009 | 21.5% | -1.1% |
| 2010 | 21.2% | -1.0% |
| 2011 | 21.1% | -0.8% |
| 2012 | 20.8% | -1.1% |
| 2013 | 20.5% | -1.8% |
| 2014 | 20.1% | -1.9% |
| 2015 | 19.8% | -1.5% |
| 2016 | 19.6% | -0.8% |
| 2017 | 19.5% | -0.3% |
| 2018 | 19.5% | -0.4% |
| 2019 | 19.3% | -0.6% |
| 2020 | 19.3% | -0.5% |
| 2021 | 19.1% | -0.6% |
| 2022 | 19.1% | -0.5% |
| 2023 | 18.9% | -0.5% |
| 2024 | 18.8% | -0.7% |
| 2025 | 18.7% | -0.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 36.0% | 33.5% | 38.4% | 10 |
| 1970s | 31.5% | 30.1% | 33.1% | 10 |
| 1980s | 28.7% | 27.5% | 29.9% | 10 |
| 1990s | 25.9% | 24.7% | 27.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | 22.8% | 21.5% | 24.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 20.1% | 19.3% | 21.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 19.0% | 18.7% | 19.3% | 6 |
Countries ranked near OECD members
More agriculture & rural data for OECD members
- Agricultural raw materials imports 1.0% (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate -0.3033 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.1868 units per person (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 1.2% (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added 977.64 billion current US$ (2024)
- Rural population 262.00 million (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added 1.4% (2024)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 699.9 current US$ per person (2024)
- Rural population growth -0.3% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is rural population in OECD members?
- Rural population in OECD members was 18.7% in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest rural population recorded in OECD members?
- The highest recorded value was 38.4% in 1960.
- What is the lowest rural population recorded in OECD members?
- The lowest recorded value was 18.7% in 2025.
- How does OECD members rank for rural population?
- OECD members ranks 44th out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is rural population rising or falling in OECD members?
- Over the last ten years it is down 5.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this OECD members 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.