Share of population living in rural areas in France
France: Share of population living in rural areas was 37.9% in 2020. ▼ Falling
Share of population living in rural areas in France, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2020, share of population living in rural areas in France stood at 37.9%.
That represents a change of up 0.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in rural areas in France peaked at 41.6% in 1950 and was at its lowest, 37.2%, in 1980.
That places France 64th 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 France, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 41.6% | — |
| 1955 | 40.5% | -2.7% |
| 1960 | 39.4% | -2.6% |
| 1965 | 38.5% | -2.5% |
| 1970 | 37.8% | -1.7% |
| 1975 | 37.2% | -1.6% |
| 1980 | 37.2% | -0.0% |
| 1985 | 37.2% | +0.1% |
| 1990 | 37.2% | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 37.2% | -0.1% |
| 2000 | 37.3% | +0.3% |
| 2005 | 37.6% | +0.6% |
| 2010 | 37.8% | +0.6% |
| 2015 | 37.8% | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 37.9% | +0.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 41.1% | 40.5% | 41.6% | 2 |
| 1960s | 38.9% | 38.5% | 39.4% | 2 |
| 1970s | 37.5% | 37.2% | 37.8% | 2 |
| 1980s | 37.2% | 37.2% | 37.2% | 2 |
| 1990s | 37.2% | 37.2% | 37.2% | 2 |
| 2000s | 37.5% | 37.3% | 37.6% | 2 |
| 2010s | 37.8% | 37.8% | 37.8% | 2 |
| 2020s | 37.9% | 37.9% | 37.9% | 1 |
Countries ranked near France
- 61 Thailand 39.4% compare
- 62 Finland 39.1% compare
- 63 French Polynesia 38.4% compare
- 65 Hungary 37.4% compare
- 66 Bonaire Sint Eustatius and Saba 37.4% compare
- 67 British Virgin Islands 37.1% compare
More population data for France
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.028 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -3.58 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.028 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.1885 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 65,827 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.1504 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate 0.1075 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth -0.0% (2100)
- Population density 125.07 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 3.16 million people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in rural areas in France?
- Share of population living in rural areas in France was 37.9% 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 France?
- The highest recorded value was 41.6% in 1950.
- What is the lowest share of population living in rural areas recorded in France?
- The lowest recorded value was 37.2% in 1980.
- How does France rank for share of population living in rural areas?
- France ranks 64th out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in rural areas rising or falling in France?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this France 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.