Rural population in Switzerland
Switzerland: Rural population was 25.7% in 2024. ▬ Flat
Latest (2024)
25.7%
Change on year
down 0.5%
World rank
136th
of 214 countries
All-time high
26.6%
in 2001
All-time low
25.5%
in 1980
Years of data
55
1970–2024
Rural population in Switzerland, 1970–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in % of total population.
Analysis
Switzerland recorded 25.7% for rural population in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.5% on the previous year and down 2.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, rural population in Switzerland peaked at 26.6% in 2001 and was at its lowest, 25.5%, in 1980.
Switzerland ranks 136th of 214 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Rural population in Switzerland, year by year
| Year | % of total population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 26.2% | — |
| 1971 | 26.0% | -0.6% |
| 1972 | 26.0% | -0.2% |
| 1973 | 25.9% | -0.2% |
| 1974 | 25.8% | -0.2% |
| 1975 | 25.8% | -0.2% |
| 1976 | 25.7% | -0.2% |
| 1977 | 25.7% | -0.2% |
| 1978 | 25.6% | -0.2% |
| 1979 | 25.6% | -0.2% |
| 1980 | 25.5% | -0.2% |
| 1981 | 25.5% | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 25.6% | +0.2% |
| 1983 | 25.7% | +0.2% |
| 1984 | 25.7% | +0.2% |
| 1985 | 25.8% | +0.2% |
| 1986 | 25.8% | +0.2% |
| 1987 | 25.9% | +0.2% |
| 1988 | 26.0% | +0.2% |
| 1989 | 26.0% | +0.2% |
| 1990 | 26.1% | +0.2% |
| 1991 | 26.1% | +0.2% |
| 1992 | 26.2% | +0.2% |
| 1993 | 26.2% | +0.2% |
| 1994 | 26.3% | +0.2% |
| 1995 | 26.3% | +0.2% |
| 1996 | 26.4% | +0.2% |
| 1997 | 26.5% | +0.2% |
| 1998 | 26.5% | +0.2% |
| 1999 | 26.6% | +0.2% |
| 2000 | 26.6% | +0.2% |
| 2001 | 26.6% | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 26.6% | -0.1% |
| 2003 | 26.6% | -0.1% |
| 2004 | 26.5% | -0.1% |
| 2005 | 26.5% | -0.1% |
| 2006 | 26.5% | -0.1% |
| 2007 | 26.5% | -0.1% |
| 2008 | 26.4% | -0.1% |
| 2009 | 26.4% | -0.1% |
| 2010 | 26.4% | -0.1% |
| 2011 | 26.4% | -0.1% |
| 2012 | 26.3% | -0.1% |
| 2013 | 26.3% | -0.1% |
| 2014 | 26.3% | -0.1% |
| 2015 | 26.3% | -0.1% |
| 2016 | 26.3% | -0.1% |
| 2017 | 26.2% | -0.1% |
| 2018 | 26.2% | -0.1% |
| 2019 | 26.2% | -0.2% |
| 2020 | 26.1% | -0.3% |
| 2021 | 26.0% | -0.3% |
| 2022 | 25.9% | -0.4% |
| 2023 | 25.8% | -0.4% |
| 2024 | 25.7% | -0.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 25.8% | 25.6% | 26.2% | 10 |
| 1980s | 25.7% | 25.5% | 26.0% | 10 |
| 1990s | 26.3% | 26.1% | 26.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 26.5% | 26.4% | 26.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 26.3% | 26.2% | 26.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 25.9% | 25.7% | 26.1% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Switzerland
- 133 New Caledonia 26.9% compare
- 134 Hungary 26.8% compare
- 135 Botswana 26.5% compare
- 137 Czechia 25.3% compare
- 138 Equatorial Guinea 25.1% compare
- 139 Russian Federation 24.5% compare
More population data for Switzerland
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.0652 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -0.0595 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.0652 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.2093 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 9,754 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.4828 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.1371 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate 0.046 (2100)
- Population density 230.99 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 392,499 (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is rural population in Switzerland?
- Rural population in Switzerland was 25.7% in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest rural population recorded in Switzerland?
- The highest recorded value was 26.6% in 2001.
- What is the lowest rural population recorded in Switzerland?
- The lowest recorded value was 25.5% in 1980.
- How does Switzerland rank for rural population?
- Switzerland ranks 136th out of 214 countries with data for 2024.
- Is rural population rising or falling in Switzerland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Switzerland 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