Rural population as a share of total population fell 1.14% to 7.87% in Japan in 2024, according to the National Statistical Office.
Historically, rural population as a share of total population in Japan reached an all time high of 36.7% in 1960 and an all time low of 7.87% in 2024. When compared to Japan's main peers, rural population as a share of total population in China amounted to 34.5%, 24.5% in Russia, 18.5% in South Korea and 16.5% in USA in 2024.
Japan has been ranked 160th 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 |
| Canada | % | 18.6% | 18.5% | 18.4% | 18.3% | 18.2% | ||||||||||||||||
| China | % | 40.8% | 39.7% | 38.6% | 37.5% | 36.4% | ||||||||||||||||
| 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% | ||||||||||||||||
| North Korea | % | 38.1% | 37.9% | 37.6% | 37.4% | 37.1% | ||||||||||||||||
| 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% | ||||||||||||||||
| Vietnam | % | 64.1% | 63.4% | 62.7% | 61.9% | 61.2% |
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