U.S. Rural Population 1960-2023
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.
- U.S. rural population for 2021 was 56,843,442, a 1.09% decline from 2020.
- U.S. rural population for 2020 was 57,469,027, a 0.21% decline from 2019.
- U.S. rural population for 2019 was 57,592,357, a 0.69% decline from 2018.
- U.S. rural population for 2018 was 57,994,170, a 0.58% decline from 2017.
| U.S. Rural Population - Historical Data | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Population | % of Total | Change |
| 2021 | 56,843,442 | 17.13 | -1.09% |
| 2020 | 57,469,027 | 17.34 | -0.21% |
| 2019 | 57,592,357 | 17.54 | -0.70% |
| 2018 | 57,994,170 | 17.74 | -0.58% |
| 2017 | 58,333,412 | 17.94 | -0.45% |
| 2016 | 58,598,755 | 18.14 | -0.32% |
| 2015 | 58,788,250 | 18.33 | -0.28% |
| 2014 | 58,955,597 | 18.52 | -0.26% |
| 2013 | 59,106,371 | 18.70 | -0.27% |
| 2012 | 59,263,241 | 18.88 | -0.19% |
| 2011 | 59,375,348 | 19.06 | -0.17% |
| 2010 | 59,477,423 | 19.23 | -0.03% |
| 2009 | 59,495,270 | 19.39 | 0.01% |
| 2008 | 59,486,862 | 19.56 | 0.09% |
| 2007 | 59,435,929 | 19.73 | 0.09% |
| 2006 | 59,380,586 | 19.90 | 0.11% |
| 2005 | 59,316,092 | 20.07 | 0.07% |
| 2004 | 59,272,576 | 20.24 | 0.07% |
| 2003 | 59,231,337 | 20.42 | 0.01% |
| 2002 | 59,224,903 | 20.59 | 0.08% |
| 2001 | 59,176,653 | 20.77 | 0.14% |
| 2000 | 59,093,274 | 20.94 | -0.38% |
| 1999 | 59,318,323 | 21.26 | -0.55% |
| 1998 | 59,647,910 | 21.62 | -0.53% |
| 1997 | 59,962,727 | 21.99 | -0.47% |
| 1996 | 60,247,274 | 22.36 | -0.52% |
| 1995 | 60,559,606 | 22.74 | -0.47% |
| 1994 | 60,847,887 | 23.13 | -0.43% |
| 1993 | 61,112,155 | 23.51 | -0.33% |
| 1992 | 61,314,541 | 23.90 | -0.26% |
| 1991 | 61,471,853 | 24.30 | -0.30% |
| 1990 | 61,656,881 | 24.70 | 0.28% |
| 1989 | 61,485,081 | 24.91 | 0.36% |
| 1988 | 61,266,559 | 25.06 | 0.32% |
| 1987 | 61,073,788 | 25.21 | 0.30% |
| 1986 | 60,888,123 | 25.36 | 0.33% |
| 1985 | 60,684,895 | 25.51 | 0.30% |
| 1984 | 60,503,262 | 25.66 | 0.28% |
| 1983 | 60,332,364 | 25.81 | 0.33% |
| 1982 | 60,135,341 | 25.96 | 0.37% |
| 1981 | 59,913,573 | 26.11 | 0.40% |
| 1980 | 59,673,829 | 26.26 | 0.78% |
| 1979 | 59,207,469 | 26.31 | 1.07% |
| 1978 | 58,579,920 | 26.32 | 1.03% |
| 1977 | 57,982,322 | 26.33 | 0.97% |
| 1976 | 57,423,878 | 26.34 | 0.91% |
| 1975 | 56,902,406 | 26.35 | 0.95% |
| 1974 | 56,365,499 | 26.36 | 0.88% |
| 1973 | 55,874,046 | 26.37 | 0.92% |
| 1972 | 55,364,268 | 26.38 | 1.03% |
| 1971 | 54,795,508 | 26.39 | 1.22% |
| 1970 | 54,129,627 | 26.40 | 0.15% |
| 1969 | 54,047,876 | 26.67 | -0.36% |
| 1968 | 54,242,804 | 27.03 | -0.33% |
| 1967 | 54,423,243 | 27.39 | -0.24% |
| 1966 | 54,551,297 | 27.75 | -0.16% |
| 1965 | 54,639,947 | 28.12 | -0.06% |
| 1964 | 54,673,014 | 28.49 | 0.08% |
| 1963 | 54,626,596 | 28.87 | 0.14% |
| 1962 | 54,549,307 | 29.24 | 0.25% |
| 1961 | 54,414,785 | 29.62 | 0.38% |
| 1960 | 54,208,527 | 30.00 | % |
