Rural population (% of total population) (UNESCO Institute) in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Rural population (% of total population) (UNESCO Institute) was 15.1% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
15.1%
Change on year
down 1.6%
World rank
168th
of 214 countries
All-time high
23.0%
in 1971
All-time low
15.1%
in 2024
Years of data
55
1970–2024
Rural population in United Kingdom, 1970–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in % of total population.
Analysis
The most recent figure for rural population in United Kingdom is 15.1%, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 55 years on record.
That represents a change of down 1.6% on the previous year and down 14.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, rural population in United Kingdom peaked at 23.0% in 1971 and was at its lowest, 15.1%, in 2024.
That places United Kingdom 168th out of 214 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 55 years of available data.
Rural population (% of total population) (UNESCO Institute) in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | % of total population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 22.9% | — |
| 1971 | 23.0% | +0.4% |
| 1972 | 22.8% | -0.7% |
| 1973 | 22.6% | -0.7% |
| 1974 | 22.5% | -0.7% |
| 1975 | 22.3% | -0.7% |
| 1976 | 22.2% | -0.7% |
| 1977 | 22.0% | -0.7% |
| 1978 | 21.8% | -0.7% |
| 1979 | 21.7% | -0.7% |
| 1980 | 21.5% | -0.7% |
| 1981 | 21.4% | -0.5% |
| 1982 | 21.5% | +0.2% |
| 1983 | 21.5% | +0.2% |
| 1984 | 21.6% | +0.2% |
| 1985 | 21.6% | +0.2% |
| 1986 | 21.7% | +0.2% |
| 1987 | 21.7% | +0.2% |
| 1988 | 21.8% | +0.2% |
| 1989 | 21.8% | +0.2% |
| 1990 | 21.9% | +0.2% |
| 1991 | 21.9% | +0.1% |
| 1992 | 21.8% | -0.3% |
| 1993 | 21.8% | -0.3% |
| 1994 | 21.7% | -0.3% |
| 1995 | 21.6% | -0.3% |
| 1996 | 21.6% | -0.3% |
| 1997 | 21.5% | -0.3% |
| 1998 | 21.5% | -0.3% |
| 1999 | 21.4% | -0.3% |
| 2000 | 21.3% | -0.3% |
| 2001 | 21.2% | -0.5% |
| 2002 | 21.0% | -1.4% |
| 2003 | 20.7% | -1.4% |
| 2004 | 20.4% | -1.4% |
| 2005 | 20.1% | -1.4% |
| 2006 | 19.8% | -1.4% |
| 2007 | 19.5% | -1.4% |
| 2008 | 19.2% | -1.4% |
| 2009 | 19.0% | -1.4% |
| 2010 | 18.7% | -1.4% |
| 2011 | 18.4% | -1.4% |
| 2012 | 18.2% | -1.4% |
| 2013 | 17.9% | -1.5% |
| 2014 | 17.6% | -1.5% |
| 2015 | 17.4% | -1.5% |
| 2016 | 17.1% | -1.5% |
| 2017 | 16.9% | -1.5% |
| 2018 | 16.6% | -1.5% |
| 2019 | 16.3% | -1.5% |
| 2020 | 16.1% | -1.5% |
| 2021 | 15.8% | -1.5% |
| 2022 | 15.6% | -1.6% |
| 2023 | 15.4% | -1.6% |
| 2024 | 15.1% | -1.6% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 15.1% is below the median for high income countries, which is 16.4%, 92% of the median. (84 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 15.1% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 30.5%, 50% of the median. (56 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 22.4% | 21.7% | 23.0% | 10 |
| 1980s | 21.6% | 21.4% | 21.8% | 10 |
| 1990s | 21.7% | 21.4% | 21.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 20.2% | 19.0% | 21.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 17.5% | 16.3% | 18.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 15.6% | 15.1% | 16.1% | 5 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
- 165 United States 16.5% compare
- 166 Bahamas 16.2% compare
- 167 Norway 15.7% compare
- 169 Dominican Republic 15.0% compare
- 170 Saudi Arabia 14.8% compare
- 171 Finland 14.1% compare
More population data for United Kingdom
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.1791 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate 0.1389 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.1791 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.0706 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 71,685 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.2666 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.169 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate -0.184 (2100)
- Population density 307.14 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 3.21 million (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is rural population in United Kingdom?
- Rural population in United Kingdom was 15.1% in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest rural population recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 23.0% in 1971.
- What is the lowest rural population recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 15.1% in 2024.
- How does United Kingdom rank for rural population?
- United Kingdom ranks 168th out of 214 countries with data for 2024.
- Is rural population rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is down 14.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this United Kingdom 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