Share of population living in rural areas in Guyana
Guyana: Share of population living in rural areas was 26.4% in 2020. ▼ Falling
Share of population living in rural areas in Guyana, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Guyana recorded 26.4% for share of population living in rural areas in 2020.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in rural areas in Guyana peaked at 36.5% in 1950 and was at its lowest, 24.3%, in 1985.
Guyana ranks 116th of 236 countries on this measure, 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 Guyana, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 36.5% | — |
| 1955 | 33.5% | -8.1% |
| 1960 | 30.2% | -9.8% |
| 1965 | 28.2% | -6.8% |
| 1970 | 26.3% | -6.6% |
| 1975 | 25.4% | -3.6% |
| 1980 | 25.4% | +0.1% |
| 1985 | 24.3% | -4.3% |
| 1990 | 25.4% | +4.7% |
| 1995 | 24.3% | -4.4% |
| 2000 | 26.0% | +7.0% |
| 2005 | 26.8% | +3.0% |
| 2010 | 27.0% | +0.7% |
| 2015 | 27.0% | -0.2% |
| 2020 | 26.4% | -2.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 35.0% | 33.5% | 36.5% | 2 |
| 1960s | 29.2% | 28.2% | 30.2% | 2 |
| 1970s | 25.8% | 25.4% | 26.3% | 2 |
| 1980s | 24.8% | 24.3% | 25.4% | 2 |
| 1990s | 24.9% | 24.3% | 25.4% | 2 |
| 2000s | 26.4% | 26.0% | 26.8% | 2 |
| 2010s | 27.0% | 27.0% | 27.0% | 2 |
| 2020s | 26.4% | 26.4% | 26.4% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Guyana
- 113 Germany 27.0% compare
- 114 Andorra 26.6% compare
- 115 United States Virgin Islands 26.4% compare
- 117 Costa Rica 26.3% compare
- 118 Belarus 26.2% compare
- 119 United States 26.0% compare
More population data for Guyana
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.4087 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate 0.2155 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.4087 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -1.26 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 878.75 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.4789 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.8214 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth -0.4% (2100)
- Population density 4.52 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 45,520 people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in rural areas in Guyana?
- Share of population living in rural areas in Guyana was 26.4% 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 Guyana?
- The highest recorded value was 36.5% in 1950.
- What is the lowest share of population living in rural areas recorded in Guyana?
- The lowest recorded value was 24.3% in 1985.
- How does Guyana rank for share of population living in rural areas?
- Guyana ranks 116th out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in rural areas rising or falling in Guyana?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Guyana 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.