Rural population as a share of total population fell 1.03% to 8.13% in Japan in 2021, according to the National Statistical Office.
Historically, rural population as a share of total population in Japan reached an all time high of 36.7% in 1960 and an all time low of 8.13% in 2021. When compared to Japan's main peers, rural population as a share of total population in China amounted to 37.5%, 25.1% in Russia, 18.6% in South Korea and 17.1% in USA in 2021.
Japan has been ranked 162nd within the group of 171 countries we follow in terms of rural population as a share of total population, 2 places above the position seen 10 years ago.
| Rural Population (As % of Total) | Unit | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 |
| Canada | % | 18.7% | 18.7% | 18.7% | 18.6% | 18.5% | ||||||||||||||||
| China | % | 44.5% | 43.3% | 42.0% | 40.8% | 39.7% | ||||||||||||||||
| Dem. People's Republic of Korea | % | 38.7% | 38.5% | 38.3% | 38.1% | 37.9% | ||||||||||||||||
| Germany | % | 22.8% | 22.8% | 22.7% | 22.7% | 22.6% | ||||||||||||||||
| India | % | 67.2% | 66.8% | 66.4% | 66.0% | 65.5% | ||||||||||||||||
| Japan | % | 8.62% | 8.54% | 8.47% | 8.38% | 8.30% | ||||||||||||||||
| Mexico | % | 20.7% | 20.4% | 20.1% | 19.8% | 19.6% | ||||||||||||||||
| Russia | % | 26.0% | 25.8% | 25.7% | 25.6% | 25.4% | ||||||||||||||||
| South Korea | % | 18.4% | 18.4% | 18.5% | 18.5% | 18.6% | ||||||||||||||||
| USA | % | 18.3% | 18.1% | 17.9% | 17.7% | 17.5% | ||||||||||||||||
| Vietnam | % | 66.2% | 65.5% | 64.8% | 64.1% | 63.4% |
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