Rural population (% of total population) (Rural World Urbanization) in Spain
Spain: Rural population (% of total population) (Rural World Urbanization) was 19.5% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Rural population in Spain, 1960–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN). Measured in % of total population.
Analysis
The most recent figure for rural population in Spain is 19.5%, measured in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 66 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.0% on the previous year and down 6.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, rural population in Spain peaked at 43.5% in 1960 and was at its lowest, 19.5%, in 2025.
Spain ranks 164th 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 Spain, year by year
| Year | % of total population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 43.5% | — |
| 1961 | 42.9% | -1.6% |
| 1962 | 42.0% | -1.9% |
| 1963 | 41.1% | -2.3% |
| 1964 | 40.0% | -2.6% |
| 1965 | 38.9% | -2.8% |
| 1966 | 37.7% | -2.9% |
| 1967 | 36.6% | -2.9% |
| 1968 | 35.6% | -2.9% |
| 1969 | 34.6% | -2.7% |
| 1970 | 33.8% | -2.3% |
| 1971 | 33.2% | -1.9% |
| 1972 | 32.6% | -1.8% |
| 1973 | 32.0% | -1.8% |
| 1974 | 31.5% | -1.8% |
| 1975 | 30.9% | -1.7% |
| 1976 | 30.4% | -1.7% |
| 1977 | 29.9% | -1.7% |
| 1978 | 29.4% | -1.6% |
| 1979 | 28.9% | -1.6% |
| 1980 | 28.5% | -1.6% |
| 1981 | 28.0% | -1.5% |
| 1982 | 27.6% | -1.5% |
| 1983 | 27.2% | -1.4% |
| 1984 | 26.9% | -1.3% |
| 1985 | 26.5% | -1.3% |
| 1986 | 26.2% | -1.2% |
| 1987 | 25.9% | -1.1% |
| 1988 | 25.6% | -1.0% |
| 1989 | 25.4% | -1.0% |
| 1990 | 25.2% | -0.9% |
| 1991 | 25.0% | -0.8% |
| 1992 | 24.8% | -0.7% |
| 1993 | 24.7% | -0.6% |
| 1994 | 24.5% | -0.5% |
| 1995 | 24.4% | -0.5% |
| 1996 | 24.3% | -0.4% |
| 1997 | 24.2% | -0.4% |
| 1998 | 24.1% | -0.5% |
| 1999 | 24.0% | -0.5% |
| 2000 | 23.8% | -0.6% |
| 2001 | 23.7% | -0.6% |
| 2002 | 23.5% | -0.8% |
| 2003 | 23.3% | -0.9% |
| 2004 | 23.0% | -1.1% |
| 2005 | 22.8% | -1.2% |
| 2006 | 22.5% | -1.2% |
| 2007 | 22.2% | -1.2% |
| 2008 | 22.0% | -1.2% |
| 2009 | 21.7% | -1.1% |
| 2010 | 21.5% | -1.0% |
| 2011 | 21.3% | -0.8% |
| 2012 | 21.2% | -0.7% |
| 2013 | 21.0% | -0.7% |
| 2014 | 20.9% | -0.6% |
| 2015 | 20.8% | -0.6% |
| 2016 | 20.6% | -0.6% |
| 2017 | 20.5% | -0.5% |
| 2018 | 20.4% | -0.4% |
| 2019 | 20.4% | -0.4% |
| 2020 | 20.3% | -0.3% |
| 2021 | 20.2% | -0.4% |
| 2022 | 20.0% | -0.8% |
| 2023 | 19.9% | -0.9% |
| 2024 | 19.7% | -0.9% |
| 2025 | 19.5% | -1.0% |
Spain compared with similar countries
- Spain's 19.5% is above the median for high income countries, which is 18.7%, 1.0× the median. (85 countries reporting)
- Spain's 19.5% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 30.4%, 64% of the median. (57 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 39.3% | 34.6% | 43.5% | 10 |
| 1970s | 31.3% | 28.9% | 33.8% | 10 |
| 1980s | 26.8% | 25.4% | 28.5% | 10 |
| 1990s | 24.5% | 24.0% | 25.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | 22.9% | 21.7% | 23.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 20.9% | 20.4% | 21.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 19.9% | 19.5% | 20.3% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Spain
- 161 Mexico 20.0% compare
- 162 United States 19.8% compare
- 163 American Samoa 19.5% compare
- 165 South Korea 18.8% compare
- 166 Bahamas 18.7% compare
- 167 Germany 17.9% compare
More agriculture & rural data for Spain
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 7.64 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0268 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 1,036 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 0.0113 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.1949 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 2.7% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 2.7% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 0.9% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 1.0% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is rural population in Spain?
- Rural population in Spain was 19.5% in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest rural population recorded in Spain?
- The highest recorded value was 43.5% in 1960.
- What is the lowest rural population recorded in Spain?
- The lowest recorded value was 19.5% in 2025.
- How does Spain rank for rural population?
- Spain ranks 164th out of 218 countries with data for 2025.
- Is rural population rising or falling in Spain?
- Over the last ten years it is down 6.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Spain 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.