Share of population living in rural areas in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Share of population living in rural areas was 14.0% in 2020. ▼ Falling
Share of population living in rural areas in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2020, share of population living in rural areas in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland stood at 14.0%. That is the lowest value across all 15 years on record.
The figure is down 4.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in rural areas in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland peaked at 15.9% in 1950 and was at its lowest, 14.0%, in 2020.
That places United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 188th 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 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 15.9% | — |
| 1955 | 15.8% | -0.7% |
| 1960 | 15.6% | -1.1% |
| 1965 | 15.3% | -2.1% |
| 1970 | 15.1% | -1.2% |
| 1975 | 15.1% | +0.2% |
| 1980 | 15.3% | +1.3% |
| 1985 | 15.4% | +0.3% |
| 1990 | 15.3% | -0.5% |
| 1995 | 15.1% | -1.0% |
| 2000 | 15.0% | -0.6% |
| 2005 | 14.8% | -1.4% |
| 2010 | 14.6% | -1.7% |
| 2015 | 14.3% | -2.0% |
| 2020 | 14.0% | -2.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 15.8% | 15.8% | 15.9% | 2 |
| 1960s | 15.4% | 15.3% | 15.6% | 2 |
| 1970s | 15.1% | 15.1% | 15.1% | 2 |
| 1980s | 15.3% | 15.3% | 15.4% | 2 |
| 1990s | 15.2% | 15.1% | 15.3% | 2 |
| 2000s | 14.9% | 14.8% | 15.0% | 2 |
| 2010s | 14.4% | 14.3% | 14.6% | 2 |
| 2020s | 14.0% | 14.0% | 14.0% | 1 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
More population data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.0706 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.1791 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate 0.1389 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.1791 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -0.2% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 3.21 million people (2100)
- Population density 307.14 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth -0.2% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.169 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.2666 Percent per annum (2030)
All data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland →
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in rural areas in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- Share of population living in rural areas in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was 14.0% 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 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 15.9% in 1950.
- What is the lowest share of population living in rural areas recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 14.0% in 2020.
- How does United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank for share of population living in rural areas?
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 188th out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in rural areas rising or falling in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 4.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 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.