Rural population (% of total population) (UNESCO Institute) in Chile
Chile: Rural population (% of total population) (UNESCO Institute) was 11.9% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Rural population in Chile, 1970–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in % of total population.
Analysis
The most recent figure for rural population in Chile is 11.9%, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 55 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.9% on the previous year and down 6.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, rural population in Chile peaked at 24.8% in 1970 and was at its lowest, 11.9%, in 2024.
That places Chile 178th out of 214 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 55 years of available data.
Rural population (% of total population) (UNESCO Institute) in Chile, year by year
| Year | % of total population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 24.8% | — |
| 1971 | 24.1% | -2.6% |
| 1972 | 23.5% | -2.7% |
| 1973 | 22.8% | -2.7% |
| 1974 | 22.2% | -2.7% |
| 1975 | 21.6% | -2.7% |
| 1976 | 21.0% | -2.8% |
| 1977 | 20.4% | -2.8% |
| 1978 | 19.9% | -2.8% |
| 1979 | 19.3% | -2.8% |
| 1980 | 18.8% | -2.8% |
| 1981 | 18.2% | -2.9% |
| 1982 | 17.8% | -2.5% |
| 1983 | 17.6% | -0.7% |
| 1984 | 17.5% | -0.8% |
| 1985 | 17.4% | -0.8% |
| 1986 | 17.2% | -0.8% |
| 1987 | 17.1% | -0.8% |
| 1988 | 17.0% | -0.8% |
| 1989 | 16.9% | -0.8% |
| 1990 | 16.7% | -0.8% |
| 1991 | 16.6% | -0.8% |
| 1992 | 16.4% | -1.0% |
| 1993 | 16.1% | -2.0% |
| 1994 | 15.8% | -2.0% |
| 1995 | 15.5% | -2.0% |
| 1996 | 15.1% | -2.0% |
| 1997 | 14.8% | -2.1% |
| 1998 | 14.5% | -2.1% |
| 1999 | 14.2% | -2.1% |
| 2000 | 13.9% | -2.1% |
| 2001 | 13.6% | -2.1% |
| 2002 | 13.4% | -1.8% |
| 2003 | 13.3% | -0.4% |
| 2004 | 13.3% | -0.4% |
| 2005 | 13.2% | -0.4% |
| 2006 | 13.2% | -0.4% |
| 2007 | 13.1% | -0.4% |
| 2008 | 13.0% | -0.5% |
| 2009 | 13.0% | -0.4% |
| 2010 | 12.9% | -0.4% |
| 2011 | 12.9% | -0.4% |
| 2012 | 12.8% | -0.4% |
| 2013 | 12.8% | -0.4% |
| 2014 | 12.7% | -0.4% |
| 2015 | 12.6% | -0.4% |
| 2016 | 12.6% | -0.5% |
| 2017 | 12.5% | -0.5% |
| 2018 | 12.4% | -0.6% |
| 2019 | 12.4% | -0.6% |
| 2020 | 12.3% | -0.7% |
| 2021 | 12.2% | -0.7% |
| 2022 | 12.1% | -0.8% |
| 2023 | 12.0% | -0.8% |
| 2024 | 11.9% | -0.9% |
Chile compared with similar countries
- Chile's 11.9% is below the median for high income countries, which is 16.4%, 73% of the median. (84 countries reporting)
- Chile's 11.9% is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 28.5%, 42% of the median. (41 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 22.0% | 19.3% | 24.8% | 10 |
| 1980s | 17.5% | 16.9% | 18.8% | 10 |
| 1990s | 15.6% | 14.2% | 16.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 13.3% | 13.0% | 13.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 12.7% | 12.4% | 12.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 12.1% | 11.9% | 12.3% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Chile
More population data for Chile
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -1.14 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -5.32 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -1.14 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.5123 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 20,675 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.323 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -1.15 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate -1.15 (2100)
- Population density 18.06 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 411,277 (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is rural population in Chile?
- Rural population in Chile was 11.9% in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest rural population recorded in Chile?
- The highest recorded value was 24.8% in 1970.
- What is the lowest rural population recorded in Chile?
- The lowest recorded value was 11.9% in 2024.
- How does Chile rank for rural population?
- Chile ranks 178th out of 214 countries with data for 2024.
- Is rural population rising or falling in Chile?
- Over the last ten years it is down 6.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Chile data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Rural population (% of total population). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 55 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release