Share of population living in rural areas in China
China: Share of population living in rural areas was 16.36 in 2020. ▼ Falling
Latest (2020)
16.36
World rank
175th
of 236 countries
All-time high
35.4
in 1950
All-time low
16.36
in 2020
Years of data
15
1950–2020
Share of population living in rural areas in China, 1950–2020
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
China recorded 16.36 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, 16.36, 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 | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 35.4 | — |
| 1955 | 33.42 | -5.6% |
| 1960 | 31.65 | -5.3% |
| 1965 | 30.05 | -5.1% |
| 1970 | 27.59 | -8.2% |
| 1975 | 25.54 | -7.4% |
| 1980 | 24.64 | -3.5% |
| 1985 | 23.06 | -6.4% |
| 1990 | 21.13 | -8.4% |
| 1995 | 19.61 | -7.2% |
| 2000 | 18.45 | -5.9% |
| 2005 | 17.71 | -4.1% |
| 2010 | 17.07 | -3.6% |
| 2015 | 16.58 | -2.9% |
| 2020 | 16.36 | -1.3% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 16.36 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 25.26, 65% of the median. (58 countries reporting)
- China's 16.36 is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 29.5, 55% of the median. (37 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 34.41 | 33.42 | 35.4 | 2 |
| 1960s | 30.85 | 30.05 | 31.65 | 2 |
| 1970s | 26.56 | 25.54 | 27.59 | 2 |
| 1980s | 23.85 | 23.06 | 24.64 | 2 |
| 1990s | 20.37 | 19.61 | 21.13 | 2 |
| 2000s | 18.08 | 17.71 | 18.45 | 2 |
| 2010s | 16.82 | 16.58 | 17.07 | 2 |
| 2020s | 16.36 | 16.36 | 16.36 | 1 |
Countries ranked near China
- 172 Gabon 16.91 compare
- 173 India 16.61 compare
- 174 Sao Tome and Principe 16.56 compare
- 176 Saudi Arabia 16.35 compare
- 177 Netherlands 15.7 compare
- 178 Afghanistan 15.59 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)
- Population growth rate -1.68 (2100)
- Population density 67.46 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 15.54 million (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 16.36 in 2020, according to 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 16.36 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 Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living in rural areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 15 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).