Share of population living in rural areas in North Macedonia
North Macedonia: Share of population living in rural areas was 29.5% in 2020. ▼ Falling
Share of population living in rural areas in North Macedonia, 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 North Macedonia is 29.5%, measured in 2020.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in rural areas in North Macedonia peaked at 40.5% in 1950 and was at its lowest, 28.8%, in 2010.
North Macedonia ranks 97th 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 North Macedonia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 40.5% | — |
| 1955 | 38.2% | -5.5% |
| 1960 | 36.8% | -3.8% |
| 1965 | 35.2% | -4.4% |
| 1970 | 33.3% | -5.4% |
| 1975 | 31.5% | -5.3% |
| 1980 | 30.6% | -2.7% |
| 1985 | 30.4% | -0.8% |
| 1990 | 29.9% | -1.7% |
| 1995 | 30.0% | +0.4% |
| 2000 | 29.1% | -2.9% |
| 2005 | 29.1% | -0.2% |
| 2010 | 28.8% | -0.9% |
| 2015 | 29.1% | +0.9% |
| 2020 | 29.5% | +1.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 39.3% | 38.2% | 40.5% | 2 |
| 1960s | 36.0% | 35.2% | 36.8% | 2 |
| 1970s | 32.4% | 31.5% | 33.3% | 2 |
| 1980s | 30.5% | 30.4% | 30.6% | 2 |
| 1990s | 29.9% | 29.9% | 30.0% | 2 |
| 2000s | 29.1% | 29.1% | 29.1% | 2 |
| 2010s | 28.9% | 28.8% | 29.1% | 2 |
| 2020s | 29.5% | 29.5% | 29.5% | 1 |
Countries ranked near North Macedonia
More population data for North Macedonia
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.9708 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -1.24 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -3.21 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -1.24 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -1.2% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 28,904 people (2100)
- Population density 34.22 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth -1.2% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -1.01 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population -0.1557 Percent per annum (2030)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in rural areas in North Macedonia?
- Share of population living in rural areas in North Macedonia was 29.5% 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 North Macedonia?
- The highest recorded value was 40.5% in 1950.
- What is the lowest share of population living in rural areas recorded in North Macedonia?
- The lowest recorded value was 28.8% in 2010.
- How does North Macedonia rank for share of population living in rural areas?
- North Macedonia ranks 97th out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in rural areas rising or falling in North Macedonia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this North Macedonia 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.