Rural population in France
France: Rural population was 18.0% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Rural population in France, 1970–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in % of total population.
Analysis
The most recent figure for rural population in France is 18.0%, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 55 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.5% on the previous year and down 12.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, rural population in France peaked at 28.9% in 1970 and was at its lowest, 18.0%, in 2024.
That places France 161st 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 in France, year by year
| Year | % of total population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 28.9% | — |
| 1971 | 28.5% | -1.4% |
| 1972 | 28.1% | -1.4% |
| 1973 | 27.7% | -1.4% |
| 1974 | 27.4% | -1.4% |
| 1975 | 27.1% | -1.0% |
| 1976 | 27.0% | -0.3% |
| 1977 | 26.9% | -0.3% |
| 1978 | 26.9% | -0.3% |
| 1979 | 26.8% | -0.3% |
| 1980 | 26.7% | -0.3% |
| 1981 | 26.6% | -0.3% |
| 1982 | 26.6% | -0.3% |
| 1983 | 26.5% | -0.3% |
| 1984 | 26.4% | -0.3% |
| 1985 | 26.4% | -0.3% |
| 1986 | 26.3% | -0.3% |
| 1987 | 26.2% | -0.3% |
| 1988 | 26.1% | -0.3% |
| 1989 | 26.1% | -0.3% |
| 1990 | 25.9% | -0.4% |
| 1991 | 25.8% | -0.7% |
| 1992 | 25.6% | -0.7% |
| 1993 | 25.4% | -0.7% |
| 1994 | 25.3% | -0.7% |
| 1995 | 25.1% | -0.7% |
| 1996 | 24.9% | -0.7% |
| 1997 | 24.8% | -0.7% |
| 1998 | 24.6% | -0.7% |
| 1999 | 24.4% | -0.8% |
| 2000 | 24.1% | -1.1% |
| 2001 | 23.9% | -1.1% |
| 2002 | 23.6% | -1.1% |
| 2003 | 23.4% | -1.1% |
| 2004 | 23.1% | -1.1% |
| 2005 | 22.9% | -1.1% |
| 2006 | 22.6% | -1.1% |
| 2007 | 22.4% | -1.1% |
| 2008 | 22.1% | -1.1% |
| 2009 | 21.9% | -1.1% |
| 2010 | 21.6% | -1.2% |
| 2011 | 21.4% | -1.2% |
| 2012 | 21.1% | -1.2% |
| 2013 | 20.9% | -1.2% |
| 2014 | 20.6% | -1.2% |
| 2015 | 20.3% | -1.3% |
| 2016 | 20.1% | -1.3% |
| 2017 | 19.8% | -1.3% |
| 2018 | 19.6% | -1.3% |
| 2019 | 19.3% | -1.4% |
| 2020 | 19.0% | -1.4% |
| 2021 | 18.8% | -1.4% |
| 2022 | 18.5% | -1.4% |
| 2023 | 18.2% | -1.4% |
| 2024 | 18.0% | -1.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 27.5% | 26.8% | 28.9% | 10 |
| 1980s | 26.4% | 26.1% | 26.7% | 10 |
| 1990s | 25.2% | 24.4% | 25.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 23.0% | 21.9% | 24.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 20.5% | 19.3% | 21.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 18.5% | 18.0% | 19.0% | 5 |
Countries ranked near France
More population data for France
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.1885 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 65,827 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.1504 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate 0.1075 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate -0.033 (2100)
- Population density 125.07 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 3.16 million (2100)
- Population growth rate by level of development -0.033 (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 0.1505 % change on previous year (2030)
- Fertility and wanted fertility, annual growth rate -3.01 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is rural population in France?
- Rural population in France was 18.0% in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest rural population recorded in France?
- The highest recorded value was 28.9% in 1970.
- What is the lowest rural population recorded in France?
- The lowest recorded value was 18.0% in 2024.
- How does France rank for rural population?
- France ranks 161st out of 214 countries with data for 2024.
- Is rural population rising or falling in France?
- Over the last ten years it is down 12.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this France 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