Rural population as a share of total population fell 1.55% to 15.8% in the United Kingdom in 2021, according to the National Statistical Office.
Historically, rural population as a share of total population in the United Kingdom reached an all time high of 23.0% in 1971 and an all time low of 15.8% in 2021. When compared to United Kingdom's main peers, rural population as a share of total population in Belgium amounted to 1.88%, 18.8% in France, 22.5% in Germany and 36.1% in Ireland in 2021.
United Kingdom has been ranked 145th within the group of 171 countries we follow in terms of rural population as a share of total population, 1 place below 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 |
| Austria | % | 42.3% | 42.1% | 41.9% | 41.7% | 41.5% | ||||||||||||||||
| Belgium | % | 2.12% | 2.08% | 2.04% | 2.00% | 1.96% | ||||||||||||||||
| Canada | % | 18.7% | 18.7% | 18.7% | 18.6% | 18.5% | ||||||||||||||||
| France | % | 20.3% | 20.1% | 19.8% | 19.6% | 19.3% | ||||||||||||||||
| Germany | % | 22.8% | 22.8% | 22.7% | 22.7% | 22.6% | ||||||||||||||||
| Iceland | % | 6.30% | 6.27% | 6.23% | 6.19% | 6.15% | ||||||||||||||||
| Ireland | % | 37.5% | 37.3% | 37.1% | 36.8% | 36.6% | ||||||||||||||||
| Italy | % | 30.4% | 30.1% | 29.9% | 29.6% | 29.3% | ||||||||||||||||
| Luxembourg | % | 9.82% | 9.54% | 9.27% | 9.02% | 8.78% | ||||||||||||||||
| Netherlands | % | 9.83% | 9.37% | 8.92% | 8.51% | 8.12% | ||||||||||||||||
| Poland | % | 39.7% | 39.8% | 39.9% | 39.9% | 40.0% | ||||||||||||||||
| Spain | % | 20.4% | 20.2% | 19.9% | 19.7% | 19.4% | ||||||||||||||||
| United Kingdom | % | 17.4% | 17.1% | 16.9% | 16.6% | 16.3% |
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