Rural population (% of total population) (UNESCO Institute) in Germany
Germany: Rural population (% of total population) (UNESCO Institute) was 22.1% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
22.1%
Change on year
down 0.6%
World rank
148th
of 214 countries
All-time high
27.7%
in 1970
All-time low
22.1%
in 2024
Years of data
55
1970–2024
Rural population in Germany, 1970–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in % of total population.
Analysis
The most recent figure for rural population in Germany is 22.1%, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 55 years on record.
The figure is down 0.6% on the previous year and down 3.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, rural population in Germany peaked at 27.7% in 1970 and was at its lowest, 22.1%, in 2024.
Germany ranks 148th of 214 countries on this measure, 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 Germany, year by year
| Year | % of total population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 27.7% | — |
| 1971 | 27.7% | -0.2% |
| 1972 | 27.6% | -0.2% |
| 1973 | 27.6% | -0.2% |
| 1974 | 27.5% | -0.2% |
| 1975 | 27.4% | -0.2% |
| 1976 | 27.4% | -0.2% |
| 1977 | 27.3% | -0.2% |
| 1978 | 27.3% | -0.2% |
| 1979 | 27.2% | -0.2% |
| 1980 | 27.2% | -0.2% |
| 1981 | 27.0% | -0.5% |
| 1982 | 26.9% | -0.4% |
| 1983 | 26.9% | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 27.1% | +0.6% |
| 1985 | 27.3% | +0.9% |
| 1986 | 27.4% | +0.3% |
| 1987 | 27.2% | -0.8% |
| 1988 | 27.0% | -0.6% |
| 1989 | 27.0% | +0.1% |
| 1990 | 26.9% | -0.5% |
| 1991 | 26.7% | -0.6% |
| 1992 | 26.6% | -0.3% |
| 1993 | 26.5% | -0.5% |
| 1994 | 26.3% | -0.8% |
| 1995 | 26.1% | -0.8% |
| 1996 | 25.9% | -0.8% |
| 1997 | 25.7% | -0.8% |
| 1998 | 25.4% | -0.8% |
| 1999 | 25.2% | -0.8% |
| 2000 | 25.0% | -0.8% |
| 2001 | 24.8% | -0.8% |
| 2002 | 24.6% | -0.8% |
| 2003 | 24.4% | -0.8% |
| 2004 | 24.2% | -0.8% |
| 2005 | 24.0% | -0.8% |
| 2006 | 23.8% | -0.8% |
| 2007 | 23.6% | -0.8% |
| 2008 | 23.4% | -0.8% |
| 2009 | 23.2% | -0.8% |
| 2010 | 23.0% | -0.8% |
| 2011 | 22.8% | -0.8% |
| 2012 | 22.8% | -0.0% |
| 2013 | 22.8% | -0.0% |
| 2014 | 22.8% | -0.0% |
| 2015 | 22.8% | -0.0% |
| 2016 | 22.8% | -0.1% |
| 2017 | 22.7% | -0.2% |
| 2018 | 22.7% | -0.2% |
| 2019 | 22.6% | -0.3% |
| 2020 | 22.5% | -0.3% |
| 2021 | 22.5% | -0.4% |
| 2022 | 22.4% | -0.5% |
| 2023 | 22.2% | -0.5% |
| 2024 | 22.1% | -0.6% |
Germany compared with similar countries
- Germany's 22.1% is above the median for high income countries, which is 16.4%, 1.4× the median. (84 countries reporting)
- Germany's 22.1% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 30.5%, 72% of the median. (56 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 27.5% | 27.2% | 27.7% | 10 |
| 1980s | 27.1% | 26.9% | 27.4% | 10 |
| 1990s | 26.1% | 25.2% | 26.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 24.1% | 23.2% | 25.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 22.8% | 22.6% | 23.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 22.3% | 22.1% | 22.5% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Germany
More population data for Germany
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.0436 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -0.8968 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.0436 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.1409 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 78,932 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population -0.1335 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.3367 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate -0.049 (2100)
- Population density 202.93 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 3.11 million (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is rural population in Germany?
- Rural population in Germany was 22.1% in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest rural population recorded in Germany?
- The highest recorded value was 27.7% in 1970.
- What is the lowest rural population recorded in Germany?
- The lowest recorded value was 22.1% in 2024.
- How does Germany rank for rural population?
- Germany ranks 148th out of 214 countries with data for 2024.
- Is rural population rising or falling in Germany?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Germany 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