Share of population living in rural areas in Belgium
Belgium: Share of population living in rural areas was 21.6% in 2020. ▼ Falling
Share of population living in rural areas in Belgium, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of population living in rural areas in Belgium is 21.6%, measured in 2020. That is the lowest value across all 15 years on record.
The figure is down 5.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in rural areas in Belgium peaked at 28.4% in 1950 and was at its lowest, 21.6%, in 2020.
That places Belgium 147th out of 236 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 15 years of available data.
Share of population living in rural areas in Belgium, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 28.4% | — |
| 1955 | 27.9% | -1.7% |
| 1960 | 27.3% | -2.1% |
| 1965 | 26.7% | -2.3% |
| 1970 | 26.2% | -1.8% |
| 1975 | 26.0% | -0.8% |
| 1980 | 25.6% | -1.8% |
| 1985 | 25.4% | -0.8% |
| 1990 | 25.1% | -1.3% |
| 1995 | 24.2% | -3.3% |
| 2000 | 23.9% | -1.3% |
| 2005 | 23.6% | -1.2% |
| 2010 | 22.8% | -3.5% |
| 2015 | 22.1% | -2.9% |
| 2020 | 21.6% | -2.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 28.2% | 27.9% | 28.4% | 2 |
| 1960s | 27.0% | 26.7% | 27.3% | 2 |
| 1970s | 26.1% | 26.0% | 26.2% | 2 |
| 1980s | 25.5% | 25.4% | 25.6% | 2 |
| 1990s | 24.6% | 24.2% | 25.1% | 2 |
| 2000s | 23.8% | 23.6% | 23.9% | 2 |
| 2010s | 22.5% | 22.1% | 22.8% | 2 |
| 2020s | 21.6% | 21.6% | 21.6% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Belgium
More population data for Belgium
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.1652 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -0.1094 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.1652 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.0945 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 12,091 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.2011 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate 0.0085 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth -0.2% (2100)
- Population density 365.29 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 461,216 people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in rural areas in Belgium?
- Share of population living in rural areas in Belgium was 21.6% in 2020, according to European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living in rural areas recorded in Belgium?
- The highest recorded value was 28.4% in 1950.
- What is the lowest share of population living in rural areas recorded in Belgium?
- The lowest recorded value was 21.6% in 2020.
- How does Belgium rank for share of population living in rural areas?
- Belgium ranks 147th out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in rural areas rising or falling in Belgium?
- Over the last ten years it is down 5.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Belgium data come from?
- The figures come from European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living in rural areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Estimated share of the population living in rural areas. Rural areas are identified using satellite imagery and population data, applying the same definitions across countries.