Rural population (% of total population) (UNESCO Institute) in Spain
Spain: Rural population (% of total population) (UNESCO Institute) was 18.2% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
18.2%
Change on year
down 1.4%
World rank
157th
of 214 countries
All-time high
34.0%
in 1970
All-time low
18.2%
in 2024
Years of data
55
1970–2024
Rural population in Spain, 1970–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in % of total population.
Analysis
In 2024, rural population in Spain stood at 18.2%. That is the lowest value across all 55 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.4% on the previous year and down 11.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, rural population in Spain peaked at 34.0% in 1970 and was at its lowest, 18.2%, in 2024.
Spain ranks 157th 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 Spain, year by year
| Year | % of total population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 34.0% | — |
| 1971 | 33.2% | -2.4% |
| 1972 | 32.5% | -2.1% |
| 1973 | 31.8% | -2.1% |
| 1974 | 31.1% | -2.1% |
| 1975 | 30.4% | -2.2% |
| 1976 | 29.8% | -2.2% |
| 1977 | 29.1% | -2.2% |
| 1978 | 28.5% | -2.2% |
| 1979 | 27.8% | -2.2% |
| 1980 | 27.2% | -2.3% |
| 1981 | 26.7% | -1.8% |
| 1982 | 26.5% | -0.9% |
| 1983 | 26.3% | -0.9% |
| 1984 | 26.0% | -0.9% |
| 1985 | 25.8% | -0.9% |
| 1986 | 25.6% | -0.9% |
| 1987 | 25.3% | -0.9% |
| 1988 | 25.1% | -0.9% |
| 1989 | 24.9% | -0.9% |
| 1990 | 24.6% | -0.9% |
| 1991 | 24.5% | -0.7% |
| 1992 | 24.4% | -0.3% |
| 1993 | 24.3% | -0.3% |
| 1994 | 24.2% | -0.3% |
| 1995 | 24.1% | -0.3% |
| 1996 | 24.1% | -0.3% |
| 1997 | 24.0% | -0.3% |
| 1998 | 23.9% | -0.3% |
| 1999 | 23.8% | -0.3% |
| 2000 | 23.7% | -0.3% |
| 2001 | 23.7% | -0.3% |
| 2002 | 23.5% | -0.8% |
| 2003 | 23.2% | -1.0% |
| 2004 | 23.0% | -1.1% |
| 2005 | 22.7% | -1.0% |
| 2006 | 22.5% | -1.1% |
| 2007 | 22.3% | -1.1% |
| 2008 | 22.0% | -1.1% |
| 2009 | 21.8% | -1.1% |
| 2010 | 21.6% | -1.1% |
| 2011 | 21.3% | -1.1% |
| 2012 | 21.1% | -1.1% |
| 2013 | 20.9% | -1.1% |
| 2014 | 20.6% | -1.1% |
| 2015 | 20.4% | -1.1% |
| 2016 | 20.2% | -1.2% |
| 2017 | 19.9% | -1.2% |
| 2018 | 19.7% | -1.2% |
| 2019 | 19.4% | -1.2% |
| 2020 | 19.2% | -1.3% |
| 2021 | 18.9% | -1.3% |
| 2022 | 18.7% | -1.3% |
| 2023 | 18.4% | -1.3% |
| 2024 | 18.2% | -1.4% |
Spain compared with similar countries
- Spain's 18.2% is above the median for high income countries, which is 16.4%, 1.1× the median. (84 countries reporting)
- Spain's 18.2% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 30.5%, 60% of the median. (56 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 30.8% | 27.8% | 34.0% | 10 |
| 1980s | 25.9% | 24.9% | 27.2% | 10 |
| 1990s | 24.2% | 23.8% | 24.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 22.8% | 21.8% | 23.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 20.5% | 19.4% | 21.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 18.7% | 18.2% | 19.2% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Spain
More population data for Spain
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.527 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -4.98 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.527 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.6358 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 44,220 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population -0.1636 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.2658 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate -0.536 (2100)
- Population density 66.29 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 1.24 million (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is rural population in Spain?
- Rural population in Spain was 18.2% in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest rural population recorded in Spain?
- The highest recorded value was 34.0% in 1970.
- What is the lowest rural population recorded in Spain?
- The lowest recorded value was 18.2% in 2024.
- How does Spain rank for rural population?
- Spain ranks 157th out of 214 countries with data for 2024.
- Is rural population rising or falling in Spain?
- Over the last ten years it is down 11.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Spain 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