Share of population living in rural areas in Indonesia

Indonesia: Share of population living in rural areas was 14.1% in 2020. ▼ Falling

Latest (2020)
14.1%
World rank
187th
of 236 countries
All-time high
28.8%
in 1950
All-time low
14.1%
in 2020
Years of data
15
1950–2020

Share of population living in rural areas in Indonesia, 1950–2020

01020301950198520201950: 28.8 %1955: 26.7 %1960: 24.5 %1965: 22.2 %1970: 20.2 %1975: 18.3 %1980: 18.3 %1985: 17.8 %1990: 17 %1995: 16.2 %2000: 15.7 %2005: 15.3 %2010: 14.8 %2015: 14.3 %2020: 14.1 %

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 Indonesia stood at 14.1%. That is the lowest value across all 15 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 4.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, share of population living in rural areas in Indonesia peaked at 28.8% in 1950 and was at its lowest, 14.1%, in 2020.

Indonesia ranks 187th of 236 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 15 years of available data.

Share of population living in rural areas in Indonesia, year by year

Annual values for Share of population living in rural areas in Indonesia, 1950 to 2020.
Year % Change
1950 28.8%
1955 26.7% -7.0%
1960 24.5% -8.5%
1965 22.2% -9.5%
1970 20.2% -8.9%
1975 18.3% -9.4%
1980 18.3% +0.3%
1985 17.8% -3.0%
1990 17.0% -4.4%
1995 16.2% -4.5%
2000 15.7% -3.5%
2005 15.3% -2.6%
2010 14.8% -2.8%
2015 14.3% -3.4%
2020 14.1% -1.7%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1950s 27.7% 26.7% 28.8% 2
1960s 23.3% 22.2% 24.5% 2
1970s 19.2% 18.3% 20.2% 2
1980s 18.1% 17.8% 18.3% 2
1990s 16.6% 16.2% 17.0% 2
2000s 15.5% 15.3% 15.7% 2
2010s 14.6% 14.3% 14.8% 2
2020s 14.1% 14.1% 14.1% 1

Countries ranked near Indonesia

  1. 184 Uzbekistan 14.6% compare
  2. 185 Dominican Republic 14.5% compare
  3. 186 Yemen 14.3% compare
  4. 188 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 14.0% compare
  5. 189 Argentina 14.0% compare
  6. 190 Uruguay 13.8% compare

See the full ranking of 236 places →

More population data for Indonesia

All data for Indonesia →

Frequently asked questions

What is share of population living in rural areas in Indonesia?
Share of population living in rural areas in Indonesia was 14.1% 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 Indonesia?
The highest recorded value was 28.8% in 1950.
What is the lowest share of population living in rural areas recorded in Indonesia?
The lowest recorded value was 14.1% in 2020.
How does Indonesia rank for share of population living in rural areas?
Indonesia ranks 187th out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
Is share of population living in rural areas rising or falling in Indonesia?
Over the last ten years it is down 4.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Indonesia 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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Share of population living in rural areas in Indonesia. Statizoid, drawing on European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Retrieved 30 August 2026, from https://population.statizoid.com/stat/share-of-population-living-in-rural-areas/indonesia/

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About this data

Indicator
Share of population living in rural areas
Unit
%
Source
European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
236 places, 3,540 data points, 1950–2020
Last refreshed

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.