Share of population living in rural areas in Serbia
Serbia: Share of population living in rural areas was 35.2% in 2020. ▼ Falling
Share of population living in rural areas in Serbia, 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 Serbia is 35.2%, 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 Serbia peaked at 45.2% in 1950 and was at its lowest, 35.2%, in 2020.
Serbia ranks 75th 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 Serbia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 45.2% | — |
| 1955 | 43.8% | -3.2% |
| 1960 | 42.3% | -3.4% |
| 1965 | 41.0% | -3.1% |
| 1970 | 39.9% | -2.7% |
| 1975 | 39.0% | -2.2% |
| 1980 | 38.0% | -2.6% |
| 1985 | 37.5% | -1.2% |
| 1990 | 37.3% | -0.5% |
| 1995 | 36.9% | -1.2% |
| 2000 | 36.6% | -0.8% |
| 2005 | 36.3% | -0.9% |
| 2010 | 35.8% | -1.4% |
| 2015 | 35.6% | -0.5% |
| 2020 | 35.2% | -1.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 44.5% | 43.8% | 45.2% | 2 |
| 1960s | 41.6% | 41.0% | 42.3% | 2 |
| 1970s | 39.4% | 39.0% | 39.9% | 2 |
| 1980s | 37.8% | 37.5% | 38.0% | 2 |
| 1990s | 37.1% | 36.9% | 37.3% | 2 |
| 2000s | 36.4% | 36.3% | 36.6% | 2 |
| 2010s | 35.7% | 35.6% | 35.8% | 2 |
| 2020s | 35.2% | 35.2% | 35.2% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Serbia
More population data for Serbia
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.7734 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -4.21 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.7734 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -1.2 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 5,778 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population -0.6883 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.9703 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth -0.8% (2100)
- Population density 44.02 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 141,046 people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in rural areas in Serbia?
- Share of population living in rural areas in Serbia was 35.2% 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 Serbia?
- The highest recorded value was 45.2% in 1950.
- What is the lowest share of population living in rural areas recorded in Serbia?
- The lowest recorded value was 35.2% in 2020.
- How does Serbia rank for share of population living in rural areas?
- Serbia ranks 75th out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in rural areas rising or falling in Serbia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Serbia 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.