Share of population living in rural areas in Reunion
Reunion: Share of population living in rural areas was 11.7% in 2020. ▼ Falling
Share of population living in rural areas in Reunion, 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 Reunion is 11.7%, measured in 2020.
That represents a change of up 2.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in rural areas in Reunion peaked at 41.2% in 1950 and was at its lowest, 11.4%, in 2010.
That places Reunion 199th out of 236 countries with data for 2020, putting it 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 Reunion, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 41.2% | — |
| 1955 | 36.9% | -10.6% |
| 1960 | 32.8% | -11.0% |
| 1965 | 29.4% | -10.5% |
| 1970 | 26.8% | -8.7% |
| 1975 | 24.9% | -7.1% |
| 1980 | 23.3% | -6.3% |
| 1985 | 18.6% | -20.3% |
| 1990 | 16.0% | -13.9% |
| 1995 | 13.8% | -13.6% |
| 2000 | 12.4% | -10.2% |
| 2005 | 11.9% | -4.0% |
| 2010 | 11.4% | -4.6% |
| 2015 | 11.6% | +1.9% |
| 2020 | 11.7% | +1.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 39.0% | 36.9% | 41.2% | 2 |
| 1960s | 31.1% | 29.4% | 32.8% | 2 |
| 1970s | 25.9% | 24.9% | 26.8% | 2 |
| 1980s | 21.0% | 18.6% | 23.3% | 2 |
| 1990s | 14.9% | 13.8% | 16.0% | 2 |
| 2000s | 12.2% | 11.9% | 12.4% | 2 |
| 2010s | 11.5% | 11.4% | 11.6% | 2 |
| 2020s | 11.7% | 11.7% | 11.7% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Reunion
- 196 Trinidad and Tobago 12.6% compare
- 197 Iraq 12.5% compare
- 198 Pakistan 12.0% compare
- 200 Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of 11.5% compare
- 201 Equatorial Guinea 10.5% compare
- 202 Lebanon 10.4% compare
More population data for Reunion
- Population density 339.53 people per km² (2100)
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.3582 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth -0.4% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.4545 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -43.68 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -0.4% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 37,888 people (2100)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.3582 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.2793 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population aged 14 years or younger (thousands), annual growth rate -1.27 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in rural areas in Reunion?
- Share of population living in rural areas in Reunion was 11.7% 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 Reunion?
- The highest recorded value was 41.2% in 1950.
- What is the lowest share of population living in rural areas recorded in Reunion?
- The lowest recorded value was 11.4% in 2010.
- How does Reunion rank for share of population living in rural areas?
- Reunion ranks 199th out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in rural areas rising or falling in Reunion?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Reunion 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.