Rural population (% of total population) (UNESCO Institute) in French Polynesia
French Polynesia: Rural population (% of total population) (UNESCO Institute) was 37.6% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
37.6%
Change on year
down 0.4%
World rank
103rd
of 214 countries
All-time high
44.8%
in 1970
All-time low
37.6%
in 2024
Years of data
55
1970–2024
Rural population in French Polynesia, 1970–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in % of total population.
Analysis
In 2024, rural population in French Polynesia stood at 37.6%. That is the lowest value across all 55 years on record.
That represents a change of down 0.4% on the previous year and down 2.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, rural population in French Polynesia peaked at 44.8% in 1970 and was at its lowest, 37.6%, in 2024.
That places French Polynesia 103rd out of 214 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 55 years of available data.
Rural population (% of total population) (UNESCO Institute) in French Polynesia, year by year
| Year | % of total population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 44.8% | — |
| 1971 | 43.8% | -2.3% |
| 1972 | 43.3% | -1.2% |
| 1973 | 42.8% | -1.2% |
| 1974 | 42.3% | -1.2% |
| 1975 | 41.7% | -1.2% |
| 1976 | 41.2% | -1.2% |
| 1977 | 40.8% | -1.0% |
| 1978 | 40.9% | +0.1% |
| 1979 | 40.9% | +0.1% |
| 1980 | 41.0% | +0.1% |
| 1981 | 41.1% | +0.1% |
| 1982 | 41.1% | +0.1% |
| 1983 | 41.2% | +0.1% |
| 1984 | 41.3% | +0.2% |
| 1985 | 41.4% | +0.3% |
| 1986 | 41.5% | +0.3% |
| 1987 | 41.6% | +0.3% |
| 1988 | 41.7% | +0.3% |
| 1989 | 41.9% | +0.5% |
| 1990 | 42.1% | +0.6% |
| 1991 | 42.4% | +0.6% |
| 1992 | 42.6% | +0.6% |
| 1993 | 42.9% | +0.6% |
| 1994 | 43.1% | +0.6% |
| 1995 | 43.4% | +0.6% |
| 1996 | 43.6% | +0.6% |
| 1997 | 43.7% | +0.2% |
| 1998 | 43.8% | +0.2% |
| 1999 | 43.9% | +0.2% |
| 2000 | 44.0% | +0.2% |
| 2001 | 44.0% | +0.2% |
| 2002 | 44.1% | +0.2% |
| 2003 | 43.8% | -0.8% |
| 2004 | 43.2% | -1.3% |
| 2005 | 42.6% | -1.4% |
| 2006 | 42.0% | -1.4% |
| 2007 | 41.4% | -1.4% |
| 2008 | 40.8% | -1.4% |
| 2009 | 40.3% | -1.4% |
| 2010 | 39.7% | -1.4% |
| 2011 | 39.1% | -1.4% |
| 2012 | 38.5% | -1.5% |
| 2013 | 38.4% | -0.3% |
| 2014 | 38.4% | -0.1% |
| 2015 | 38.3% | -0.1% |
| 2016 | 38.3% | -0.1% |
| 2017 | 38.2% | -0.1% |
| 2018 | 38.2% | -0.1% |
| 2019 | 38.1% | -0.2% |
| 2020 | 38.0% | -0.2% |
| 2021 | 37.9% | -0.2% |
| 2022 | 37.8% | -0.3% |
| 2023 | 37.7% | -0.3% |
| 2024 | 37.6% | -0.4% |
French Polynesia compared with similar countries
- French Polynesia's 37.6% is above the median for high income countries, which is 16.4%, 2.3× the median. (84 countries reporting)
- French Polynesia's 37.6% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 34.5%, 1.1× the median. (37 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 42.3% | 40.8% | 44.8% | 10 |
| 1980s | 41.4% | 41.0% | 41.9% | 10 |
| 1990s | 43.2% | 42.1% | 43.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 42.6% | 40.3% | 44.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 38.5% | 38.1% | 39.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 37.8% | 37.6% | 38.0% | 5 |
Countries ranked near French Polynesia
More population data for French Polynesia
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -1.12 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -1.57 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -1.12 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.6605 % change on previous year (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.8205 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate -1.13 (2100)
- Population density 53.84 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 6,044 (2100)
- Population growth rate by level of development -1.13 (2100)
- Urbanization vs gdp, annual growth rate 0.0635 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is rural population in French Polynesia?
- Rural population in French Polynesia was 37.6% in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest rural population recorded in French Polynesia?
- The highest recorded value was 44.8% in 1970.
- What is the lowest rural population recorded in French Polynesia?
- The lowest recorded value was 37.6% in 2024.
- How does French Polynesia rank for rural population?
- French Polynesia ranks 103rd out of 214 countries with data for 2024.
- Is rural population rising or falling in French Polynesia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this French Polynesia 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