Rural population in Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico: Rural population was 5.7% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
5.7%
Change on year
down 1.5%
World rank
198th
of 218 countries
All-time high
55.7%
in 1960
All-time low
5.6%
in 2000
Years of data
66
1960–2025
Rural population in Puerto Rico, 1960–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN). Measured in % of total population.
Analysis
In 2025, rural population in Puerto Rico stood at 5.7%.
The figure is down 1.5% on the previous year and down 8.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, rural population in Puerto Rico peaked at 55.7% in 1960 and was at its lowest, 5.6%, in 2000.
Puerto Rico ranks 198th of 218 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Rural population in Puerto Rico, year by year
| Year | % of total population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 55.7% | — |
| 1961 | 54.9% | -1.4% |
| 1962 | 53.9% | -1.8% |
| 1963 | 52.8% | -2.2% |
| 1964 | 51.4% | -2.5% |
| 1965 | 50.0% | -2.7% |
| 1966 | 48.6% | -2.9% |
| 1967 | 47.1% | -3.0% |
| 1968 | 45.7% | -3.0% |
| 1969 | 44.4% | -2.9% |
| 1970 | 43.2% | -2.6% |
| 1971 | 42.2% | -2.5% |
| 1972 | 41.1% | -2.4% |
| 1973 | 40.1% | -2.4% |
| 1974 | 39.2% | -2.4% |
| 1975 | 38.2% | -2.5% |
| 1976 | 37.2% | -2.6% |
| 1977 | 36.2% | -2.7% |
| 1978 | 35.2% | -2.9% |
| 1979 | 34.1% | -3.1% |
| 1980 | 32.9% | -3.4% |
| 1981 | 31.6% | -3.9% |
| 1982 | 30.2% | -4.6% |
| 1983 | 28.6% | -5.2% |
| 1984 | 27.0% | -5.8% |
| 1985 | 25.2% | -6.5% |
| 1986 | 23.4% | -7.2% |
| 1987 | 21.6% | -7.9% |
| 1988 | 19.7% | -8.6% |
| 1989 | 17.9% | -9.3% |
| 1990 | 16.1% | -10.0% |
| 1991 | 14.3% | -10.8% |
| 1992 | 12.7% | -11.5% |
| 1993 | 11.2% | -12.1% |
| 1994 | 9.8% | -12.5% |
| 1995 | 8.5% | -12.6% |
| 1996 | 7.5% | -12.3% |
| 1997 | 6.6% | -11.3% |
| 1998 | 6.0% | -9.2% |
| 1999 | 5.7% | -5.9% |
| 2000 | 5.6% | -1.4% |
| 2001 | 5.6% | +0.5% |
| 2002 | 5.7% | +1.0% |
| 2003 | 5.8% | +1.4% |
| 2004 | 5.8% | +1.6% |
| 2005 | 5.9% | +1.6% |
| 2006 | 6.0% | +1.6% |
| 2007 | 6.1% | +1.4% |
| 2008 | 6.2% | +1.1% |
| 2009 | 6.2% | +0.7% |
| 2010 | 6.2% | +0.2% |
| 2011 | 6.2% | -0.0% |
| 2012 | 6.2% | -0.1% |
| 2013 | 6.2% | -0.1% |
| 2014 | 6.2% | -0.2% |
| 2015 | 6.2% | -0.3% |
| 2016 | 6.2% | -0.4% |
| 2017 | 6.1% | -0.5% |
| 2018 | 6.1% | -0.7% |
| 2019 | 6.0% | -0.9% |
| 2020 | 6.0% | -1.0% |
| 2021 | 5.9% | -0.7% |
| 2022 | 5.9% | -0.9% |
| 2023 | 5.8% | -1.1% |
| 2024 | 5.7% | -1.3% |
| 2025 | 5.7% | -1.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 50.5% | 44.4% | 55.7% | 10 |
| 1970s | 38.7% | 34.1% | 43.2% | 10 |
| 1980s | 25.8% | 17.9% | 32.9% | 10 |
| 1990s | 9.8% | 5.7% | 16.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 5.9% | 5.6% | 6.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.2% | 6.0% | 6.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.8% | 5.7% | 6.0% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Puerto Rico
- 195 Jordan 6.8% compare
- 196 Iceland 5.8% compare
- 197 Guam 5.8% compare
- 199 Turks and Caicos Islands 5.6% compare
- 200 Luxembourg 5.1% compare
- 201 United States Virgin Islands 4.6% compare
More agriculture & rural data for Puerto Rico
- Rural population, per capita 0.0566 units per person (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 0.4415 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0069 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 278.57 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate -2.05 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population 180,246 (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 0.7% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 0.7% (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added 887.20 million current US$ (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is rural population in Puerto Rico?
- Rural population in Puerto Rico was 5.7% in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest rural population recorded in Puerto Rico?
- The highest recorded value was 55.7% in 1960.
- What is the lowest rural population recorded in Puerto Rico?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.6% in 2000.
- How does Puerto Rico rank for rural population?
- Puerto Rico ranks 198th out of 218 countries with data for 2025.
- Is rural population rising or falling in Puerto Rico?
- Over the last ten years it is down 8.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Puerto Rico 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.