Share of population living in rural areas in Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico: Share of population living in rural areas was 19.1% in 2020. ▼ Falling
Share of population living in rural areas in Puerto Rico, 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 Puerto Rico is 19.1%, measured in 2020.
The figure is up 16.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in rural areas in Puerto Rico peaked at 30.3% in 1950 and was at its lowest, 15.9%, in 2000.
Puerto Rico ranks 160th 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 Puerto Rico, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 30.3% | — |
| 1955 | 29.4% | -3.0% |
| 1960 | 28.8% | -2.1% |
| 1965 | 27.0% | -6.2% |
| 1970 | 25.5% | -5.5% |
| 1975 | 23.8% | -6.6% |
| 1980 | 21.9% | -8.1% |
| 1985 | 19.3% | -11.7% |
| 1990 | 17.8% | -8.1% |
| 1995 | 16.6% | -6.6% |
| 2000 | 15.9% | -4.3% |
| 2005 | 16.1% | +1.1% |
| 2010 | 16.4% | +2.3% |
| 2015 | 17.4% | +6.2% |
| 2020 | 19.1% | +9.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 29.9% | 29.4% | 30.3% | 2 |
| 1960s | 27.9% | 27.0% | 28.8% | 2 |
| 1970s | 24.7% | 23.8% | 25.5% | 2 |
| 1980s | 20.6% | 19.3% | 21.9% | 2 |
| 1990s | 17.2% | 16.6% | 17.8% | 2 |
| 2000s | 16.0% | 15.9% | 16.1% | 2 |
| 2010s | 16.9% | 16.4% | 17.4% | 2 |
| 2020s | 19.1% | 19.1% | 19.1% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Puerto Rico
- 157 San Marino 19.5% compare
- 158 Nigeria 19.4% compare
- 159 Brunei Darussalam 19.2% compare
- 161 Colombia 18.5% compare
- 162 Chile 18.2% compare
- 163 Montenegro 18.2% compare
More population data for Puerto Rico
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -2.06 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -2.24 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -30.47 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -2.24 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -2.3% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 23,218 people (2100)
- Population density 112.25 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth -2.3% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.7905 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, per capita 0.0575 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in rural areas in Puerto Rico?
- Share of population living in rural areas in Puerto Rico was 19.1% 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 Puerto Rico?
- The highest recorded value was 30.3% in 1950.
- What is the lowest share of population living in rural areas recorded in Puerto Rico?
- The lowest recorded value was 15.9% in 2000.
- How does Puerto Rico rank for share of population living in rural areas?
- Puerto Rico ranks 160th out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in rural areas rising or falling in Puerto Rico?
- Over the last ten years it is up 16.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Puerto Rico 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.