Rural population (% of total population) (Rural World Urbanization) in Uruguay
Uruguay: Rural population (% of total population) (Rural World Urbanization) was 4.3% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Latest (2025)
4.3%
Change on year
down 1.3%
World rank
202nd
of 218 countries
All-time high
19.8%
in 1960
All-time low
4.3%
in 2025
Years of data
66
1960–2025
Rural population in Uruguay, 1960–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN). Measured in % of total population.
Analysis
Uruguay recorded 4.3% for rural population in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 66 years on record.
That represents a change of down 1.3% on the previous year and down 11.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, rural population in Uruguay peaked at 19.8% in 1960 and was at its lowest, 4.3%, in 2025.
Uruguay ranks 202nd 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 Uruguay, year by year
| Year | % of total population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 19.8% | — |
| 1961 | 19.6% | -1.0% |
| 1962 | 19.4% | -1.0% |
| 1963 | 19.2% | -1.0% |
| 1964 | 19.0% | -1.0% |
| 1965 | 18.9% | -1.0% |
| 1966 | 18.7% | -0.9% |
| 1967 | 18.5% | -0.9% |
| 1968 | 18.4% | -0.9% |
| 1969 | 18.2% | -0.9% |
| 1970 | 18.0% | -0.9% |
| 1971 | 17.8% | -1.0% |
| 1972 | 17.7% | -1.1% |
| 1973 | 17.4% | -1.2% |
| 1974 | 17.2% | -1.3% |
| 1975 | 17.0% | -1.5% |
| 1976 | 16.7% | -1.8% |
| 1977 | 16.3% | -2.1% |
| 1978 | 15.9% | -2.5% |
| 1979 | 15.5% | -2.7% |
| 1980 | 15.0% | -3.0% |
| 1981 | 14.5% | -3.1% |
| 1982 | 14.1% | -3.2% |
| 1983 | 13.6% | -3.3% |
| 1984 | 13.2% | -3.2% |
| 1985 | 12.8% | -3.0% |
| 1986 | 12.4% | -2.9% |
| 1987 | 12.0% | -3.0% |
| 1988 | 11.7% | -3.2% |
| 1989 | 11.3% | -3.2% |
| 1990 | 10.9% | -3.3% |
| 1991 | 10.6% | -3.2% |
| 1992 | 10.2% | -3.2% |
| 1993 | 9.9% | -3.0% |
| 1994 | 9.6% | -2.8% |
| 1995 | 9.4% | -2.5% |
| 1996 | 9.2% | -2.1% |
| 1997 | 9.0% | -1.7% |
| 1998 | 8.9% | -1.4% |
| 1999 | 8.8% | -1.2% |
| 2000 | 8.7% | -1.1% |
| 2001 | 8.6% | -1.1% |
| 2002 | 8.5% | -1.3% |
| 2003 | 8.4% | -1.6% |
| 2004 | 8.2% | -2.1% |
| 2005 | 7.9% | -3.4% |
| 2006 | 7.5% | -5.1% |
| 2007 | 7.0% | -6.3% |
| 2008 | 6.5% | -7.1% |
| 2009 | 6.1% | -7.2% |
| 2010 | 5.7% | -6.6% |
| 2011 | 5.4% | -4.8% |
| 2012 | 5.2% | -2.9% |
| 2013 | 5.1% | -2.4% |
| 2014 | 5.0% | -2.1% |
| 2015 | 4.9% | -1.8% |
| 2016 | 4.8% | -1.6% |
| 2017 | 4.8% | -1.5% |
| 2018 | 4.7% | -1.4% |
| 2019 | 4.7% | -1.1% |
| 2020 | 4.6% | -1.1% |
| 2021 | 4.6% | -1.1% |
| 2022 | 4.5% | -1.1% |
| 2023 | 4.5% | -1.0% |
| 2024 | 4.4% | -1.2% |
| 2025 | 4.3% | -1.3% |
Uruguay compared with similar countries
- Uruguay's 4.3% is below the median for high income countries, which is 18.7%, 23% of the median. (85 countries reporting)
- Uruguay's 4.3% is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 28.0%, 16% of the median. (42 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 19.0% | 18.2% | 19.8% | 10 |
| 1970s | 17.0% | 15.5% | 18.0% | 10 |
| 1980s | 13.1% | 11.3% | 15.0% | 10 |
| 1990s | 9.7% | 8.8% | 10.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 7.8% | 6.1% | 8.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.0% | 4.7% | 5.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.5% | 4.3% | 4.6% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Uruguay
- 199 Turks and Caicos Islands 5.6% compare
- 200 Luxembourg 5.1% compare
- 201 United States Virgin Islands 4.6% compare
- 203 Malta 4.3% compare
- 204 Netherlands 4.1% compare
- 205 San Marino 2.8% compare
More agriculture & rural data for Uruguay
- Cropland extent over the long-term, annual growth rate -0.6278 % 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 0.6075 hectares per person (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, annual growth rate -0.0924 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, per unit of GDP 0.0002 hectares per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, per capita 4.15 hectares per person (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 3.67 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0638 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 1,609 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate -1.32 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is rural population in Uruguay?
- Rural population in Uruguay was 4.3% in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest rural population recorded in Uruguay?
- The highest recorded value was 19.8% in 1960.
- What is the lowest rural population recorded in Uruguay?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.3% in 2025.
- How does Uruguay rank for rural population?
- Uruguay ranks 202nd out of 218 countries with data for 2025.
- Is rural population rising or falling in Uruguay?
- Over the last ten years it is down 11.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Uruguay 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.