Share of population living in rural areas in United States
United States: Share of population living in rural areas was 25.98 in 2020. ▼ Falling
Share of population living in rural areas in United States, 1950–2020
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2020, share of population living in rural areas in United States stood at 25.98. That is the lowest value across all 15 years on record.
That represents a change of down 7.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in rural areas in United States peaked at 41.69 in 1950 and was at its lowest, 25.98, in 2020.
United States ranks 119th 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 United States, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 41.69 | — |
| 1955 | 40.22 | -3.5% |
| 1960 | 38.62 | -4.0% |
| 1965 | 36.96 | -4.3% |
| 1970 | 35.87 | -3.0% |
| 1975 | 34.92 | -2.6% |
| 1980 | 34.2 | -2.0% |
| 1985 | 33.29 | -2.7% |
| 1990 | 32.29 | -3.0% |
| 1995 | 31.09 | -3.7% |
| 2000 | 29.75 | -4.3% |
| 2005 | 28.87 | -3.0% |
| 2010 | 28.01 | -3.0% |
| 2015 | 26.91 | -3.9% |
| 2020 | 25.98 | -3.5% |
United States compared with similar countries
- United States's 25.98 is above the median for high income countries, which is 23.76, 1.1× the median. (85 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 40.96 | 40.22 | 41.69 | 2 |
| 1960s | 37.79 | 36.96 | 38.62 | 2 |
| 1970s | 35.39 | 34.92 | 35.87 | 2 |
| 1980s | 33.75 | 33.29 | 34.2 | 2 |
| 1990s | 31.69 | 31.09 | 32.29 | 2 |
| 2000s | 29.31 | 28.87 | 29.75 | 2 |
| 2010s | 27.46 | 26.91 | 28.01 | 2 |
| 2020s | 25.98 | 25.98 | 25.98 | 1 |
Countries ranked near United States
More population data for United States
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.1369 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -2.8 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.1369 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.0241 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 375,392 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.4762 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate 0.1565 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate 0.129 (2100)
- Population density 46.05 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 19.91 million (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in rural areas in United States?
- Share of population living in rural areas in United States was 25.98 in 2020, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living in rural areas recorded in United States?
- The highest recorded value was 41.69 in 1950.
- What is the lowest share of population living in rural areas recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 25.98 in 2020.
- How does United States rank for share of population living in rural areas?
- United States ranks 119th out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in rural areas rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is down 7.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this United States data come from?
- The figures come from 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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