Share of population living in rural areas in China
China: Share of population living in rural areas was 16.4% in 2020. ▼ Falling
Share of population living in rural areas in China, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
China recorded 16.4% for share of population living in rural areas in 2020. That is the lowest value across all 15 years on record.
The figure is down 4.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in rural areas in China peaked at 35.4% in 1950 and was at its lowest, 16.4%, in 2020.
That places China 175th 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 China, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 35.4% | — |
| 1955 | 33.4% | -5.6% |
| 1960 | 31.7% | -5.3% |
| 1965 | 30.1% | -5.1% |
| 1970 | 27.6% | -8.2% |
| 1975 | 25.5% | -7.4% |
| 1980 | 24.6% | -3.5% |
| 1985 | 23.1% | -6.4% |
| 1990 | 21.1% | -8.4% |
| 1995 | 19.6% | -7.2% |
| 2000 | 18.5% | -5.9% |
| 2005 | 17.7% | -4.1% |
| 2010 | 17.1% | -3.6% |
| 2015 | 16.6% | -2.9% |
| 2020 | 16.4% | -1.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 34.4% | 33.4% | 35.4% | 2 |
| 1960s | 30.9% | 30.1% | 31.7% | 2 |
| 1970s | 26.6% | 25.5% | 27.6% | 2 |
| 1980s | 23.8% | 23.1% | 24.6% | 2 |
| 1990s | 20.4% | 19.6% | 21.1% | 2 |
| 2000s | 18.1% | 17.7% | 18.5% | 2 |
| 2010s | 16.8% | 16.6% | 17.1% | 2 |
| 2020s | 16.4% | 16.4% | 16.4% | 1 |
Countries ranked near China
- 172 Gabon 16.9% compare
- 173 India 16.6% compare
- 174 Sao Tome and Principe 16.6% compare
- 176 Saudi Arabia 16.4% compare
- 177 Netherlands 15.7% compare
- 178 Afghanistan 15.6% compare
More population data for China
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -1.66 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -12.97 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -1.66 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -1.19 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 1.31 million Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population -0.1671 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.3489 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth -1.7% (2100)
- Population density 67.46 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 15.54 million people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in rural areas in China?
- Share of population living in rural areas in China was 16.4% 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 China?
- The highest recorded value was 35.4% in 1950.
- What is the lowest share of population living in rural areas recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 16.4% in 2020.
- How does China rank for share of population living in rural areas?
- China ranks 175th out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in rural areas rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 4.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this China 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.