Rural population as a share of total population fell 0.827% to 35.2% in Ireland in 2024, according to the National Statistical Office.
Historically, rural population as a share of total population in Ireland reached an all time high of 54.8% in 1960 and an all time low of 35.2% in 2024. When compared to Ireland's main peers, rural population as a share of total population in Canada amounted to 18.0%, 18.0% in France, 5.91% in Iceland and 15.1% in United Kingdom in 2024.
Ireland has been ranked 90th within the group of 171 countries we follow in terms of rural population as a share of total population, 3 places above the position seen 10 years ago.
| Rural Population (As % of Total) | Unit | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
| Australia | % | 14.0% | 13.9% | 13.8% | 13.6% | 13.5% | ||||||||||||||||
| Belgium | % | 2.00% | 1.96% | 1.92% | 1.88% | 1.85% | ||||||||||||||||
| Canada | % | 18.6% | 18.5% | 18.4% | 18.3% | 18.2% | ||||||||||||||||
| Denmark | % | 12.1% | 12.0% | 11.9% | 11.8% | 11.6% | ||||||||||||||||
| France | % | 19.6% | 19.3% | 19.0% | 18.8% | 18.5% | ||||||||||||||||
| Germany | % | 22.7% | 22.6% | 22.5% | 22.5% | 22.4% | ||||||||||||||||
| Iceland | % | 6.19% | 6.15% | 6.10% | 6.06% | 6.01% | ||||||||||||||||
| Ireland | % | 36.8% | 36.6% | 36.3% | 36.1% | 35.8% | ||||||||||||||||
| Italy | % | 29.6% | 29.3% | 29.0% | 28.7% | 28.3% | ||||||||||||||||
| Mexico | % | 19.8% | 19.6% | 19.3% | 19.0% | 18.7% | ||||||||||||||||
| Norway | % | 17.8% | 17.4% | 17.0% | 16.7% | 16.3% | ||||||||||||||||
| Spain | % | 19.7% | 19.4% | 19.2% | 18.9% | 18.7% | ||||||||||||||||
| Sweden | % | 12.6% | 12.3% | 12.0% | 11.8% | 11.5% | ||||||||||||||||
| USA | % | 17.7% | 17.5% | 17.3% | 17.1% | 16.9% | ||||||||||||||||
| United Kingdom | % | 16.6% | 16.3% | 16.1% | 15.8% | 15.6% |
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