Share of population living in rural areas in Japan
Japan: Share of population living in rural areas was 8.9% in 2020. ▼ Falling
Share of population living in rural areas in Japan, 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 Japan stood at 8.9%.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in rural areas in Japan peaked at 13.8% in 1950 and was at its lowest, 8.8%, in 2010.
Japan ranks 212th 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 Japan, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 13.8% | — |
| 1955 | 12.7% | -7.6% |
| 1960 | 12.1% | -4.5% |
| 1965 | 11.6% | -4.5% |
| 1970 | 11.0% | -5.5% |
| 1975 | 10.3% | -5.9% |
| 1980 | 10.1% | -2.0% |
| 1985 | 10.0% | -0.5% |
| 1990 | 9.8% | -2.5% |
| 1995 | 9.3% | -5.2% |
| 2000 | 9.1% | -1.5% |
| 2005 | 8.9% | -2.2% |
| 2010 | 8.8% | -1.2% |
| 2015 | 8.9% | +0.2% |
| 2020 | 8.9% | +0.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 13.2% | 12.7% | 13.8% | 2 |
| 1960s | 11.9% | 11.6% | 12.1% | 2 |
| 1970s | 10.6% | 10.3% | 11.0% | 2 |
| 1980s | 10.1% | 10.0% | 10.1% | 2 |
| 1990s | 9.5% | 9.3% | 9.8% | 2 |
| 2000s | 9.0% | 8.9% | 9.1% | 2 |
| 2010s | 8.8% | 8.8% | 8.9% | 2 |
| 2020s | 8.9% | 8.9% | 8.9% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Japan
More population data for Japan
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.4984 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -5.09 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.4984 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.5507 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 103,784 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population -0.5891 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.2372 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth -0.5% (2100)
- Population density 210.83 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 2.83 million people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in rural areas in Japan?
- Share of population living in rural areas in Japan was 8.9% 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 Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 13.8% in 1950.
- What is the lowest share of population living in rural areas recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was 8.8% in 2010.
- How does Japan rank for share of population living in rural areas?
- Japan ranks 212th out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in rural areas rising or falling in Japan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Japan 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.