Share of population living in rural areas in Uruguay
Uruguay: Share of population living in rural areas was 13.8% in 2020. ▼ Falling
Share of population living in rural areas in Uruguay, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Uruguay recorded 13.8% for share of population living in rural areas in 2020. That is the lowest value across all 15 years on record.
That represents a change of down 3.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in rural areas in Uruguay peaked at 19.9% in 1950 and was at its lowest, 13.8%, in 2020.
Uruguay ranks 190th of 236 countries on this measure, 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 Uruguay, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 19.9% | — |
| 1955 | 18.9% | -4.7% |
| 1960 | 17.9% | -5.7% |
| 1965 | 16.9% | -5.1% |
| 1970 | 16.4% | -3.5% |
| 1975 | 16.0% | -2.1% |
| 1980 | 16.0% | -0.2% |
| 1985 | 16.0% | +0.2% |
| 1990 | 16.0% | -0.2% |
| 1995 | 15.8% | -1.4% |
| 2000 | 15.4% | -2.0% |
| 2005 | 14.9% | -3.8% |
| 2010 | 14.3% | -3.8% |
| 2015 | 13.8% | -3.6% |
| 2020 | 13.8% | -0.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 19.4% | 18.9% | 19.9% | 2 |
| 1960s | 17.4% | 16.9% | 17.9% | 2 |
| 1970s | 16.2% | 16.0% | 16.4% | 2 |
| 1980s | 16.0% | 16.0% | 16.0% | 2 |
| 1990s | 15.9% | 15.8% | 16.0% | 2 |
| 2000s | 15.2% | 14.9% | 15.4% | 2 |
| 2010s | 14.0% | 13.8% | 14.3% | 2 |
| 2020s | 13.8% | 13.8% | 13.8% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Uruguay
More population data for Uruguay
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -1.01 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -4.49 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -1.01 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.891 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 3,337 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population -0.0062 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.7231 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth -1.0% (2100)
- Population density 12.83 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 78,530 people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in rural areas in Uruguay?
- Share of population living in rural areas in Uruguay was 13.8% 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 Uruguay?
- The highest recorded value was 19.9% in 1950.
- What is the lowest share of population living in rural areas recorded in Uruguay?
- The lowest recorded value was 13.8% in 2020.
- How does Uruguay rank for share of population living in rural areas?
- Uruguay ranks 190th out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in rural areas rising or falling in Uruguay?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Uruguay 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.