Rural population (% of total population) (Rural World Urbanization) in Thailand
Thailand: Rural population (% of total population) (Rural World Urbanization) was 37.2% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Latest (2025)
37.2%
Change on year
down 2.4%
World rank
102nd
of 218 countries
All-time high
88.2%
in 1960
All-time low
37.2%
in 2025
Years of data
66
1960–2025
Rural population in Thailand, 1960–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN). Measured in % of total population.
Analysis
In 2025, rural population in Thailand stood at 37.2%. That is the lowest value across all 66 years on record.
That represents a change of down 2.4% on the previous year and down 29.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, rural population in Thailand peaked at 88.2% in 1960 and was at its lowest, 37.2%, in 2025.
That places Thailand 102nd out of 218 countries with data for 2025, putting it 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 Thailand, year by year
| Year | % of total population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 88.2% | — |
| 1961 | 88.0% | -0.2% |
| 1962 | 87.9% | -0.1% |
| 1963 | 87.8% | -0.1% |
| 1964 | 87.7% | -0.1% |
| 1965 | 87.5% | -0.1% |
| 1966 | 87.4% | -0.2% |
| 1967 | 87.3% | -0.2% |
| 1968 | 87.1% | -0.2% |
| 1969 | 86.9% | -0.2% |
| 1970 | 86.7% | -0.2% |
| 1971 | 86.4% | -0.3% |
| 1972 | 86.1% | -0.4% |
| 1973 | 85.7% | -0.5% |
| 1974 | 85.2% | -0.5% |
| 1975 | 84.8% | -0.5% |
| 1976 | 84.3% | -0.5% |
| 1977 | 83.9% | -0.5% |
| 1978 | 83.5% | -0.5% |
| 1979 | 83.2% | -0.4% |
| 1980 | 82.9% | -0.3% |
| 1981 | 82.7% | -0.2% |
| 1982 | 82.6% | -0.2% |
| 1983 | 82.4% | -0.2% |
| 1984 | 82.3% | -0.1% |
| 1985 | 82.2% | -0.1% |
| 1986 | 82.1% | -0.2% |
| 1987 | 81.9% | -0.2% |
| 1988 | 81.7% | -0.2% |
| 1989 | 81.5% | -0.3% |
| 1990 | 81.2% | -0.4% |
| 1991 | 80.6% | -0.7% |
| 1992 | 79.8% | -1.1% |
| 1993 | 78.7% | -1.4% |
| 1994 | 77.3% | -1.7% |
| 1995 | 75.9% | -1.9% |
| 1996 | 74.4% | -2.0% |
| 1997 | 72.8% | -2.1% |
| 1998 | 71.3% | -2.1% |
| 1999 | 69.8% | -2.0% |
| 2000 | 68.5% | -1.9% |
| 2001 | 67.3% | -1.9% |
| 2002 | 65.9% | -2.0% |
| 2003 | 64.6% | -2.1% |
| 2004 | 63.2% | -2.1% |
| 2005 | 61.9% | -2.1% |
| 2006 | 60.6% | -2.1% |
| 2007 | 59.3% | -2.1% |
| 2008 | 58.1% | -2.0% |
| 2009 | 57.0% | -1.9% |
| 2010 | 56.0% | -1.8% |
| 2011 | 55.2% | -1.4% |
| 2012 | 54.6% | -1.0% |
| 2013 | 54.2% | -0.8% |
| 2014 | 53.7% | -0.9% |
| 2015 | 53.0% | -1.2% |
| 2016 | 52.1% | -1.7% |
| 2017 | 50.8% | -2.6% |
| 2018 | 45.4% | -10.5% |
| 2019 | 44.1% | -3.0% |
| 2020 | 42.8% | -3.0% |
| 2021 | 41.5% | -3.0% |
| 2022 | 40.3% | -3.0% |
| 2023 | 39.1% | -3.0% |
| 2024 | 38.1% | -2.4% |
| 2025 | 37.2% | -2.4% |
Thailand compared with similar countries
- Thailand's 37.2% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 34.6%, 1.1× the median. (59 countries reporting)
- Thailand's 37.2% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 34.6%, 1.1× the median. (37 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 87.6% | 86.9% | 88.2% | 10 |
| 1970s | 85.0% | 83.2% | 86.7% | 10 |
| 1980s | 82.2% | 81.5% | 82.9% | 10 |
| 1990s | 76.2% | 69.8% | 81.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | 62.6% | 57.0% | 68.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 51.9% | 44.1% | 56.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 39.8% | 37.2% | 42.8% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Thailand
- 99 French Polynesia 38.2% compare
- 100 Kazakhstan 37.6% compare
- 101 Serbia 37.4% compare
- 103 North Macedonia 37.1% compare
- 104 Morocco 36.9% compare
- 105 Kiribati 36.6% compare
More agriculture & rural data for Thailand
- Cropland extent over the long-term, annual growth rate 0.7811 % 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 0.3257 hectares per person (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, annual growth rate 0.755 % 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 0.3369 hectares per person (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 7.21 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0875 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 704.7 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate -2.51 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is rural population in Thailand?
- Rural population in Thailand was 37.2% in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest rural population recorded in Thailand?
- The highest recorded value was 88.2% in 1960.
- What is the lowest rural population recorded in Thailand?
- The lowest recorded value was 37.2% in 2025.
- How does Thailand rank for rural population?
- Thailand ranks 102nd out of 218 countries with data for 2025.
- Is rural population rising or falling in Thailand?
- Over the last ten years it is down 29.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Thailand 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.