Skip to main content
HomeCountriesChina › Rural population (% of total population)

China: Rural population (% of total population)

In , China's Rural population (% of total population) was 34.11.

That's down 1.1% from 2023, the highest value since .

The global average for this indicator in 2024 was 37.13 . China ranks #116 globally out of 217 reporting countries. Within East Asia & Pacific, it ranks #20 of 37.

Source: World Bank Open Data (SP.RUR.TOTL.ZS) • Data as of 2024

Trend (2005–2024)

China Rural population (% of total population) trend 2020: COVID-19 pandemic
  • 2020 · COVID-19 pandemic

Highlights

Peak
57.01
Trough
34.11
1-year change
-1.1%
5-year change
-8.5%
-1.8% / yr
10-year change
-22.9%
-2.6% / yr

Historical Data — Last 10 Years

Year Rural population (% of total population)
34.1053
34.4699
34.7824
35.2789
36.4766
37.2901
38.4998
39.7597
41.1601
42.6702

About Rural population (% of total population)

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.

Indicator code: SP.RUR.TOTL.ZSCategory: Health & Population

Frequently asked questions

What was China's Rural population (% of total population) in 2024?
In 2024, China's Rural population (% of total population) was 34.11, according to World Bank Open Data.
Is China's Rural population (% of total population) rising or falling?
China's Rural population (% of total population) fell 1.1% from 2023 to 2024.
How does China rank globally on Rural population (% of total population)?
In 2024, China ranked #116 out of 217 countries reporting Rural population (% of total population).
How does China's Rural population (% of total population) compare to the world average?
The global average for Rural population (% of total population) in 2024 was 37.13, so China is below the world average. Within East Asia & Pacific, it ranks #20 of 37.
What is Rural population (% of total population) and how is it measured?
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.
Download this data: CSV JSON

Source: World Bank Open Data (SP.RUR.TOTL.ZS), CC BY 4.0.