Rural population in Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico: Rural population was 6.3% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
6.3%
Change on year
down 0.5%
World rank
195th
of 214 countries
All-time high
41.7%
in 1970
All-time low
5.6%
in 2000
Years of data
55
1970–2024
Rural population in Puerto Rico, 1970–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in % of total population.
Analysis
The most recent figure for rural population in Puerto Rico is 6.3%, measured in 2024.
The figure is down 0.5% on the previous year and down 0.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, rural population in Puerto Rico peaked at 41.7% in 1970 and was at its lowest, 5.6%, in 2000.
Puerto Rico ranks 195th of 214 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Rural population in Puerto Rico, year by year
| Year | % of total population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 41.7% | — |
| 1971 | 40.8% | -2.2% |
| 1972 | 39.9% | -2.2% |
| 1973 | 39.0% | -2.2% |
| 1974 | 38.1% | -2.3% |
| 1975 | 37.2% | -2.3% |
| 1976 | 36.4% | -2.3% |
| 1977 | 35.5% | -2.4% |
| 1978 | 34.7% | -2.4% |
| 1979 | 33.8% | -2.4% |
| 1980 | 32.2% | -4.9% |
| 1981 | 28.2% | -12.2% |
| 1982 | 24.6% | -12.9% |
| 1983 | 21.3% | -13.4% |
| 1984 | 18.3% | -14.0% |
| 1985 | 15.7% | -14.4% |
| 1986 | 13.4% | -14.8% |
| 1987 | 11.3% | -15.1% |
| 1988 | 9.6% | -15.5% |
| 1989 | 8.1% | -15.7% |
| 1990 | 7.1% | -12.7% |
| 1991 | 6.9% | -2.3% |
| 1992 | 6.7% | -2.3% |
| 1993 | 6.6% | -2.3% |
| 1994 | 6.4% | -2.3% |
| 1995 | 6.3% | -2.4% |
| 1996 | 6.1% | -2.3% |
| 1997 | 6.0% | -2.4% |
| 1998 | 5.8% | -2.4% |
| 1999 | 5.7% | -2.3% |
| 2000 | 5.6% | -1.6% |
| 2001 | 5.7% | +1.0% |
| 2002 | 5.7% | +1.0% |
| 2003 | 5.8% | +0.9% |
| 2004 | 5.8% | +1.0% |
| 2005 | 5.9% | +1.0% |
| 2006 | 5.9% | +1.0% |
| 2007 | 6.0% | +1.0% |
| 2008 | 6.1% | +0.9% |
| 2009 | 6.1% | +1.0% |
| 2010 | 6.2% | +1.0% |
| 2011 | 6.2% | +0.8% |
| 2012 | 6.3% | +0.8% |
| 2013 | 6.3% | +0.6% |
| 2014 | 6.3% | +0.6% |
| 2015 | 6.4% | +0.4% |
| 2016 | 6.4% | +0.3% |
| 2017 | 6.4% | +0.2% |
| 2018 | 6.4% | +0.1% |
| 2019 | 6.4% | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 6.4% | -0.1% |
| 2021 | 6.4% | -0.2% |
| 2022 | 6.4% | -0.3% |
| 2023 | 6.4% | -0.4% |
| 2024 | 6.3% | -0.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 37.7% | 33.8% | 41.7% | 10 |
| 1980s | 18.3% | 8.1% | 32.2% | 10 |
| 1990s | 6.4% | 5.7% | 7.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 5.9% | 5.6% | 6.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.3% | 6.2% | 6.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 6.4% | 6.3% | 6.4% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Puerto Rico
More population data for Puerto Rico
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -2.24 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -30.47 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -2.24 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -2.06 % change on previous year (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.7905 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth -2.3% (2100)
- Population density 112.25 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 23,218 people (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -2.3% (2100)
- Number of people living in urban and rural areas, annual growth rate -0.1217 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is rural population in Puerto Rico?
- Rural population in Puerto Rico was 6.3% in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest rural population recorded in Puerto Rico?
- The highest recorded value was 41.7% in 1970.
- What is the lowest rural population recorded in Puerto Rico?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.6% in 2000.
- How does Puerto Rico rank for rural population?
- Puerto Rico ranks 195th out of 214 countries with data for 2024.
- Is rural population rising or falling in Puerto Rico?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Puerto Rico 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