In 2024, the urban population of the United Kingdom was approximately 58.8 million, while the rural population was around 10.5 million.

Actual value and historical data chart for United Kingdom Rural Population

United Kingdom UK: Rural Population data was reported at 11,129,375.000 Person in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 11,226,025.000 Person for 2016. United Kingdom UK: Rural Population data is updated yearly, averaging 12,274,129.500 Person from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 12,839,362.000 Person in 1971 and a record low of 11,129,375.000 Person in 2017. United Kingdom UK: Rural Population data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United Kingdom – Table UK.World Bank.WDI: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Rural population refers to people living in rural areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated as the difference between total population and urban population. Aggregation of urban and rural population may not add up to total population because of different country coverages.; ; World Bank staff estimates based on the United Nations Population Division's World Urbanization Prospects: 2018 Revision.; Sum;

Historical dataset showing U.K. rural population by year from 1960 to 2023.

United Kingdom UK: Rural Population: % of Total Population data was reported at 16.857 % in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 17.114 % for 2016. United Kingdom UK: Rural Population: % of Total Population data is updated yearly, averaging 21.618 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 22.970 % in 1971 and a record low of 16.857 % in 2017. United Kingdom UK: Rural Population: % of Total Population data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United Kingdom – Table UK.World Bank.WDI: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Rural population refers to people living in rural areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated as the difference between total population and urban population.; ; World Bank staff estimates based on the United Nations Population Division's World Urbanization Prospects: 2018 Revision.; Weighted average;

The United Kingdom: Rural population, percent of total population: The latest value from 2024 is 15.12 percent, a decline from 15.36 percent in 2023. In comparison, the world average is 38.30 percent, based on data from 196 countries. Historically, the average for the United Kingdom from 1960 to 2024 is 20.51 percent. The minimum value, 15.12 percent, was reached in 2024 while the maximum of 22.97 percent was recorded in 1971.

Actual value and historical data chart for United Kingdom Rural Population Growth Annual Percent

Access to electricity, rural (% of rural population) in United Kingdom was reported at 100 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. United Kingdom - Access to electricity, rural (% of rural population) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on November of 2025.

United Kingdom UK: Rural Land Area data was reported at 183,648.922 sq km in 2010. This stayed constant from the previous number of 183,648.922 sq km for 2000. United Kingdom UK: Rural Land Area data is updated yearly, averaging 183,648.922 sq km from Dec 1990 (Median) to 2010, with 3 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 183,648.922 sq km in 2010 and a record low of 183,648.922 sq km in 2010. United Kingdom UK: Rural Land Area data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United Kingdom – Table UK.World Bank.WDI: Land Use, Protected Areas and National Wealth. Rural land area in square kilometers, derived from urban extent grids which distinguish urban and rural areas based on a combination of population counts (persons), settlement points, and the presence of Nighttime Lights. Areas are defined as urban where contiguous lighted cells from the Nighttime Lights or approximated urban extents based on buffered settlement points for which the total population is greater than 5,000 persons.; ; Center for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN)/Columbia University. 2013. Urban-Rural Population and Land Area Estimates Version 2. Palisades, NY: NASA Socioeconomic Data and Applications Center (SEDAC). http://sedac.ciesin.columbia.edu/data/set/lecz-urban-rural-population-land-area-estimates-v2.; Sum;

(File Size - 29 KB). The 2011 rural-urban classification (RUC) of clinical commissioning groups (CCG) in England is based on the 2011 RUC of output areas published in August 2013, and allows users to create a rural/urban view of clinical commissioning group level products. The classification was produced by the University of Sheffield and was sponsored by a cross-Government working group comprising Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Department of the Communities and Local Government and Office for National Statistics. Also included are a range of population counts for each CCG including - Total Rural population (2011), Urban City and Town population (2011), Urban Minor Conurbation population (2011), Urban Major Conurbation population (2011), Total Urban population (2011), Total population (2011), Hub towns (rural related) population included in Urban population (2011), Rural including hub towns (rural & rural related) population (2011) and Rural including hub towns (rural & rural related) population as % of Total population (2011).

Historical dataset showing British Virgin Islands rural population by year from 1960 to 2023.

Percentage of the rural population that live within two kilometres of an all-season road. These data were created using Geographical Information Systems for Sustainable Development Goals Indicator 9.1.1

This scatter chart displays urban population (people) against rural population (people) in the United Kingdom. The data is about countries per year.

United Kingdom UK: Rural Population Living in Areas Where Elevation is Below 5 Meters: % of Total Population data was reported at 1.110 % in 2010. This records a decrease from the previous number of 1.120 % for 2000. United Kingdom UK: Rural Population Living in Areas Where Elevation is Below 5 Meters: % of Total Population data is updated yearly, averaging 1.110 % from Dec 1990 (Median) to 2010, with 3 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1.120 % in 2000 and a record low of 1.062 % in 1990. United Kingdom UK: Rural Population Living in Areas Where Elevation is Below 5 Meters: % of Total Population data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United Kingdom – Table UK.World Bank.WDI: Land Use, Protected Areas and National Wealth. Rural population below 5m is the percentage of the total population, living in areas where the elevation is 5 meters or less.; ; Center for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN)/Columbia University. 2013. Urban-Rural Population and Land Area Estimates Version 2. Palisades, NY: NASA Socioeconomic Data and Applications Center (SEDAC). http://sedac.ciesin.columbia.edu/data/set/lecz-urban-rural-population-land-area-estimates-v2.; Weighted average;