Share of population living in rural areas in Jamaica
Jamaica: Share of population living in rural areas was 27.6% in 2020. ▼ Falling
Share of population living in rural areas in Jamaica, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of population living in rural areas in Jamaica is 27.6%, measured in 2020.
The figure is up 10.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in rural areas in Jamaica peaked at 35.0% in 1950 and was at its lowest, 24.3%, in 2000.
Jamaica ranks 104th 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 Jamaica, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 35.0% | — |
| 1955 | 32.4% | -7.2% |
| 1960 | 31.2% | -3.8% |
| 1965 | 29.8% | -4.6% |
| 1970 | 28.7% | -3.6% |
| 1975 | 27.4% | -4.5% |
| 1980 | 26.3% | -3.9% |
| 1985 | 26.5% | +0.5% |
| 1990 | 26.2% | -1.1% |
| 1995 | 24.8% | -5.4% |
| 2000 | 24.3% | -1.9% |
| 2005 | 24.5% | +0.7% |
| 2010 | 25.0% | +2.1% |
| 2015 | 25.5% | +1.9% |
| 2020 | 27.6% | +8.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 33.7% | 32.4% | 35.0% | 2 |
| 1960s | 30.5% | 29.8% | 31.2% | 2 |
| 1970s | 28.1% | 27.4% | 28.7% | 2 |
| 1980s | 26.4% | 26.3% | 26.5% | 2 |
| 1990s | 25.5% | 24.8% | 26.2% | 2 |
| 2000s | 24.4% | 24.3% | 24.5% | 2 |
| 2010s | 25.2% | 25.0% | 25.5% | 2 |
| 2020s | 27.6% | 27.6% | 27.6% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Jamaica
More population data for Jamaica
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -1.76 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -4.7 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -1.76 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -3.12 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 2,494 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population -0.1905 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -1.66 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth -1.8% (2100)
- Population density 98.5 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 35,987 people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in rural areas in Jamaica?
- Share of population living in rural areas in Jamaica was 27.6% 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 Jamaica?
- The highest recorded value was 35.0% in 1950.
- What is the lowest share of population living in rural areas recorded in Jamaica?
- The lowest recorded value was 24.3% in 2000.
- How does Jamaica rank for share of population living in rural areas?
- Jamaica ranks 104th out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in rural areas rising or falling in Jamaica?
- Over the last ten years it is up 10.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Jamaica 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.