Rural Population (As % of Total) fell 1.03% to 42.3% in the World in 2024

Rural Population (As % of Total) (%), 2024
Society | World | September 1, 2025
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Rural population as a share of total population fell 1.03% to 42.3% in the World in 2024, according to the National Statistical Office.

Historically, rural population as a share of total population in the World reached an all time high of 66.3% in 1960 and an all time low of 42.3% in 2024. When compared to World's main peers, rural population as a share of total population in China amounted to 34.5%, 22.1% in Germany, 7.87% in Japan and 16.5% in USA in 2024.

World has been ranked th within the group of 171 countries we follow in terms of rural population as a share of total population.

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
Austria % 41.7% 41.5% 41.3% 41.0% 40.7%
Belgium % 2.00% 1.96% 1.92% 1.88% 1.85%
Canada % 18.6% 18.5% 18.4% 18.3% 18.2%
China % 40.8% 39.7% 38.6% 37.5% 36.4%
France % 19.6% 19.3% 19.0% 18.8% 18.5%
Germany % 22.7% 22.6% 22.5% 22.5% 22.4%
India % 66.0% 65.5% 65.1% 64.6% 64.1%
Japan % 8.38% 8.30% 8.22% 8.13% 8.05%
Mexico % 19.8% 19.6% 19.3% 19.0% 18.7%
Poland % 39.9% 40.0% 40.0% 39.9% 39.9%
Russia % 25.6% 25.4% 25.2% 25.1% 24.9%
South Korea % 18.5% 18.6% 18.6% 18.6% 18.6%
USA % 17.7% 17.5% 17.3% 17.1% 16.9%
World % 44.9% 44.5% 44.0% 43.6% 43.2%