Share of population living in rural areas in Portugal
Portugal: Share of population living in rural areas was 29.5% in 2020. ▼ Falling
Share of population living in rural areas in Portugal, 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 Portugal is 29.5%, measured in 2020. That is the lowest value across all 15 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in rural areas in Portugal peaked at 37.6% in 1950 and was at its lowest, 29.5%, in 2020.
That places Portugal 96th 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 Portugal, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 37.6% | — |
| 1955 | 36.8% | -1.9% |
| 1960 | 36.2% | -1.7% |
| 1965 | 36.2% | -0.1% |
| 1970 | 36.8% | +1.7% |
| 1975 | 35.7% | -3.0% |
| 1980 | 33.9% | -5.0% |
| 1985 | 33.1% | -2.1% |
| 1990 | 32.7% | -1.2% |
| 1995 | 32.1% | -2.0% |
| 2000 | 31.3% | -2.4% |
| 2005 | 30.6% | -2.2% |
| 2010 | 30.0% | -2.1% |
| 2015 | 29.8% | -0.7% |
| 2020 | 29.5% | -0.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 37.2% | 36.8% | 37.6% | 2 |
| 1960s | 36.2% | 36.2% | 36.2% | 2 |
| 1970s | 36.2% | 35.7% | 36.8% | 2 |
| 1980s | 33.5% | 33.1% | 33.9% | 2 |
| 1990s | 32.4% | 32.1% | 32.7% | 2 |
| 2000s | 31.0% | 30.6% | 31.3% | 2 |
| 2010s | 29.9% | 29.8% | 30.0% | 2 |
| 2020s | 29.5% | 29.5% | 29.5% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Portugal
- 93 Senegal 30.1% compare
- 94 French Guiana 29.9% compare
- 95 Mongolia 29.5% compare
- 97 North Macedonia 29.5% compare
- 98 Suriname 29.2% compare
- 99 Bolivia, Plurinational State of 28.8% compare
More population data for Portugal
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.4941 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.0538 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -4.39 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.0538 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -0.0% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 396,215 people (2100)
- Population density 95.56 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth -0.0% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate 0.0558 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population -0.2816 Percent per annum (2030)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in rural areas in Portugal?
- Share of population living in rural areas in Portugal 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 Portugal?
- The highest recorded value was 37.6% in 1950.
- What is the lowest share of population living in rural areas recorded in Portugal?
- The lowest recorded value was 29.5% in 2020.
- How does Portugal rank for share of population living in rural areas?
- Portugal ranks 96th out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in rural areas rising or falling in Portugal?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Portugal 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.