Rural population in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Rural population was 16.7% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Rural population in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 1960–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN). Measured in % of total population.
Analysis
The most recent figure for rural population in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is 16.7%, measured in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 66 years on record.
That represents a change of down 0.5% on the previous year and down 8.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, rural population in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland peaked at 23.1% in 1971 and was at its lowest, 16.7%, in 2025.
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 169th 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 in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, year by year
| Year | % of total population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 21.4% | — |
| 1961 | 21.6% | +0.9% |
| 1962 | 21.8% | +0.8% |
| 1963 | 22.0% | +0.9% |
| 1964 | 22.2% | +0.9% |
| 1965 | 22.4% | +0.9% |
| 1966 | 22.6% | +0.8% |
| 1967 | 22.8% | +0.7% |
| 1968 | 22.9% | +0.6% |
| 1969 | 23.0% | +0.5% |
| 1970 | 23.1% | +0.3% |
| 1971 | 23.1% | +0.1% |
| 1972 | 23.0% | -0.3% |
| 1973 | 22.9% | -0.6% |
| 1974 | 22.7% | -0.9% |
| 1975 | 22.5% | -1.1% |
| 1976 | 22.2% | -1.1% |
| 1977 | 21.9% | -1.1% |
| 1978 | 21.7% | -1.0% |
| 1979 | 21.5% | -0.8% |
| 1980 | 21.4% | -0.5% |
| 1981 | 21.4% | -0.1% |
| 1982 | 21.4% | +0.1% |
| 1983 | 21.5% | +0.2% |
| 1984 | 21.5% | +0.3% |
| 1985 | 21.6% | +0.3% |
| 1986 | 21.7% | +0.3% |
| 1987 | 21.7% | +0.3% |
| 1988 | 21.8% | +0.3% |
| 1989 | 21.9% | +0.2% |
| 1990 | 21.9% | +0.2% |
| 1991 | 21.9% | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 21.8% | -0.2% |
| 1993 | 21.7% | -0.5% |
| 1994 | 21.6% | -0.8% |
| 1995 | 21.3% | -1.0% |
| 1996 | 21.1% | -1.1% |
| 1997 | 20.9% | -1.2% |
| 1998 | 20.6% | -1.2% |
| 1999 | 20.4% | -1.1% |
| 2000 | 20.2% | -1.0% |
| 2001 | 20.0% | -0.8% |
| 2002 | 19.9% | -0.7% |
| 2003 | 19.8% | -0.6% |
| 2004 | 19.7% | -0.6% |
| 2005 | 19.6% | -0.5% |
| 2006 | 19.5% | -0.5% |
| 2007 | 19.4% | -0.5% |
| 2008 | 19.2% | -0.6% |
| 2009 | 19.1% | -0.6% |
| 2010 | 19.0% | -0.7% |
| 2011 | 18.9% | -0.7% |
| 2012 | 18.7% | -0.8% |
| 2013 | 18.5% | -0.9% |
| 2014 | 18.4% | -1.0% |
| 2015 | 18.2% | -1.0% |
| 2016 | 18.0% | -1.1% |
| 2017 | 17.8% | -1.2% |
| 2018 | 17.6% | -1.2% |
| 2019 | 17.3% | -1.3% |
| 2020 | 17.1% | -1.3% |
| 2021 | 17.0% | -0.5% |
| 2022 | 16.9% | -0.5% |
| 2023 | 16.8% | -0.5% |
| 2024 | 16.8% | -0.5% |
| 2025 | 16.7% | -0.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 22.3% | 21.4% | 23.0% | 10 |
| 1970s | 22.5% | 21.5% | 23.1% | 10 |
| 1980s | 21.6% | 21.4% | 21.9% | 10 |
| 1990s | 21.3% | 20.4% | 21.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 19.6% | 19.1% | 20.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 18.2% | 17.3% | 19.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 16.9% | 16.7% | 17.1% | 6 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
More agriculture & rural data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 8.26 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0064 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 368.63 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate -0.1852 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.1668 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 0.6% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 0.6% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 0.4% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 1.1% (2025)
All data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland →
Frequently asked questions
- What is rural population in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- Rural population in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was 16.7% in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest rural population recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 23.1% in 1971.
- What is the lowest rural population recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 16.7% in 2025.
- How does United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank for rural population?
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 169th out of 218 countries with data for 2025.
- Is rural population rising or falling in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 8.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 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.