Rural population (% of total population) (Rural World Urbanization) in Switzerland
Switzerland: Rural population (% of total population) (Rural World Urbanization) was 14.3% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Rural population in Switzerland, 1960–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN). Measured in % of total population.
Analysis
The most recent figure for rural population in Switzerland is 14.3%, measured in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 66 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.8% on the previous year and down 41.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, rural population in Switzerland peaked at 49.0% in 1960 and was at its lowest, 14.3%, in 2025.
That places Switzerland 174th 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 Switzerland, year by year
| Year | % of total population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 49.0% | — |
| 1961 | 48.3% | -1.3% |
| 1962 | 47.6% | -1.4% |
| 1963 | 47.0% | -1.4% |
| 1964 | 46.3% | -1.5% |
| 1965 | 45.6% | -1.5% |
| 1966 | 44.9% | -1.5% |
| 1967 | 44.3% | -1.4% |
| 1968 | 43.7% | -1.4% |
| 1969 | 43.1% | -1.3% |
| 1970 | 42.6% | -1.2% |
| 1971 | 42.1% | -1.1% |
| 1972 | 41.7% | -1.0% |
| 1973 | 41.3% | -0.9% |
| 1974 | 40.9% | -0.9% |
| 1975 | 40.6% | -0.8% |
| 1976 | 40.3% | -0.8% |
| 1977 | 39.9% | -0.9% |
| 1978 | 39.6% | -0.9% |
| 1979 | 39.2% | -1.0% |
| 1980 | 38.7% | -1.2% |
| 1981 | 38.2% | -1.3% |
| 1982 | 37.6% | -1.7% |
| 1983 | 36.8% | -1.9% |
| 1984 | 36.0% | -2.1% |
| 1985 | 35.2% | -2.3% |
| 1986 | 34.4% | -2.4% |
| 1987 | 33.5% | -2.4% |
| 1988 | 32.7% | -2.4% |
| 1989 | 32.0% | -2.3% |
| 1990 | 31.3% | -2.0% |
| 1991 | 30.8% | -1.8% |
| 1992 | 30.2% | -1.9% |
| 1993 | 29.6% | -1.9% |
| 1994 | 29.0% | -1.9% |
| 1995 | 28.5% | -1.9% |
| 1996 | 28.0% | -1.8% |
| 1997 | 27.5% | -1.6% |
| 1998 | 27.1% | -1.4% |
| 1999 | 26.9% | -1.0% |
| 2000 | 26.7% | -0.6% |
| 2001 | 26.6% | -0.3% |
| 2002 | 26.6% | -0.2% |
| 2003 | 26.5% | -0.1% |
| 2004 | 26.5% | -0.1% |
| 2005 | 26.5% | -0.1% |
| 2006 | 26.5% | -0.1% |
| 2007 | 26.5% | -0.1% |
| 2008 | 26.5% | -0.1% |
| 2009 | 26.4% | -0.1% |
| 2010 | 26.4% | -0.1% |
| 2011 | 26.3% | -0.2% |
| 2012 | 26.2% | -0.4% |
| 2013 | 25.9% | -1.4% |
| 2014 | 25.3% | -2.4% |
| 2015 | 24.4% | -3.4% |
| 2016 | 23.3% | -4.4% |
| 2017 | 22.1% | -5.3% |
| 2018 | 20.7% | -6.2% |
| 2019 | 19.2% | -7.2% |
| 2020 | 17.7% | -8.1% |
| 2021 | 15.8% | -10.5% |
| 2022 | 15.1% | -4.6% |
| 2023 | 14.8% | -1.8% |
| 2024 | 14.5% | -1.9% |
| 2025 | 14.3% | -1.8% |
Switzerland compared with similar countries
- Switzerland's 14.3% is below the median for high income countries, which is 18.7%, 76% of the median. (85 countries reporting)
- Switzerland's 14.3% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 30.4%, 47% of the median. (57 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 46.0% | 43.1% | 49.0% | 10 |
| 1970s | 40.8% | 39.2% | 42.6% | 10 |
| 1980s | 35.5% | 32.0% | 38.7% | 10 |
| 1990s | 28.9% | 26.9% | 31.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 26.5% | 26.4% | 26.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 24.0% | 19.2% | 26.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 15.4% | 14.3% | 17.7% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Switzerland
- 171 New Zealand 16.0% compare
- 172 Saudi Arabia 15.4% compare
- 173 Peru 14.4% compare
- 175 United Arab Emirates 14.0% compare
- 176 Palestine 12.6% compare
- 177 Belgium 12.3% compare
More agriculture & rural data for Switzerland
- Cropland extent over the long-term, annual growth rate -0.1556 % 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 0.0462 hectares per person (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, annual growth rate -0.206 % 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 0.1636 hectares per person (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 13.79 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0064 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 739.83 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate -0.8806 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is rural population in Switzerland?
- Rural population in Switzerland was 14.3% in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest rural population recorded in Switzerland?
- The highest recorded value was 49.0% in 1960.
- What is the lowest rural population recorded in Switzerland?
- The lowest recorded value was 14.3% in 2025.
- How does Switzerland rank for rural population?
- Switzerland ranks 174th out of 218 countries with data for 2025.
- Is rural population rising or falling in Switzerland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 41.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Switzerland 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.