Share of population living in rural areas in Nicaragua
Nicaragua: Share of population living in rural areas was 35.6% in 2020. ▼ Falling
Share of population living in rural areas in Nicaragua, 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 Nicaragua stood at 35.6%.
The figure is up 3.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in rural areas in Nicaragua peaked at 53.0% in 1950 and was at its lowest, 33.9%, in 2000.
That places Nicaragua 72nd 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 Nicaragua, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 53.0% | — |
| 1955 | 50.3% | -5.3% |
| 1960 | 47.3% | -5.8% |
| 1965 | 44.3% | -6.3% |
| 1970 | 41.3% | -6.9% |
| 1975 | 38.4% | -7.0% |
| 1980 | 37.9% | -1.3% |
| 1985 | 36.8% | -2.8% |
| 1990 | 36.1% | -2.1% |
| 1995 | 34.8% | -3.6% |
| 2000 | 33.9% | -2.5% |
| 2005 | 34.2% | +0.9% |
| 2010 | 34.3% | +0.3% |
| 2015 | 34.6% | +0.9% |
| 2020 | 35.6% | +2.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 51.6% | 50.3% | 53.0% | 2 |
| 1960s | 45.8% | 44.3% | 47.3% | 2 |
| 1970s | 39.8% | 38.4% | 41.3% | 2 |
| 1980s | 37.3% | 36.8% | 37.9% | 2 |
| 1990s | 35.4% | 34.8% | 36.1% | 2 |
| 2000s | 34.0% | 33.9% | 34.2% | 2 |
| 2010s | 34.5% | 34.3% | 34.6% | 2 |
| 2020s | 35.6% | 35.6% | 35.6% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Nicaragua
More population data for Nicaragua
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.3894 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.4231 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -1.18 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.4231 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -0.4% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 394,954 people (2100)
- Population density 71.56 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth -0.4% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.7708 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 1.15 Percent per annum (2030)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in rural areas in Nicaragua?
- Share of population living in rural areas in Nicaragua was 35.6% 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 Nicaragua?
- The highest recorded value was 53.0% in 1950.
- What is the lowest share of population living in rural areas recorded in Nicaragua?
- The lowest recorded value was 33.9% in 2000.
- How does Nicaragua rank for share of population living in rural areas?
- Nicaragua ranks 72nd out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in rural areas rising or falling in Nicaragua?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Nicaragua 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.