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Countries in Europe Ranked by Rural population (2025)

Rural population: each country's latest value (2020–2025), ranked from highest to lowest. Source: The World Bank (CC BY 4.0).

Summary

Russian Federation ranks #1 with 35.52 million people. That is 2 times Italy in second place (17.86 million people). The top five are Russian Federation, Italy, Germany, Poland and France. Together the top 10 account for 78.4% of the total across the 49 countries in Europe listed. The median across all 49 is 1.3 million people; Monaco is last at 0 people. Russian Federation's figure has fallen 9% since 2001 (39.08 million people to 35.52 million people in 2025).

#1
Russian Federation · 35.52 million people
Median
1.3 million people
Coverage
49 countries in Europe
Data year
2025
Last updated
2026-11-14
Top 10: Rural populationBar chart of the top 10: 1. Russian Federation 35.52 million; 2. Italy 17.86 million; 3. Germany 14.91 million; 4. Poland 14.54 million; 5. France 14.54 million; 6. Ukraine 11.85 million; 7. United Kingdom 11.59 million; 8. Spain 9.62 million; 9. Romania 9.1 million; 10. Portugal 4.16 million.Russian Federation35.52 millionItaly17.86 millionGermany14.91 millionPoland14.54 millionFrance14.54 millionUkraine11.85 millionUnited Kingdom11.59 millionSpain9.62 millionRomania9.1 millionPortugal4.16 million
Top 10: Rural population (people). Bar chart of the top 10: 1. Russian Federation 35.52 million; 2. Italy 17.86 million; 3. Germany 14.91 million; 4. Poland 14.54 million; 5. France 14.54 million; 6. Ukraine 11.85 million; 7. United Kingdom 11.59 million; 8. Spain 9.62 million; 9. Romania 9.1 million; 10. Portugal 4.16 million.
Rural population over time, top 5Russian Federation: 39.08 million in 2001 to 35.52 million in 2025; Italy: 18.65 million in 2001 to 17.86 million in 2025; Germany: 16.38 million in 2001 to 14.91 million in 2025; Poland: 14.63 million in 2001 to 14.54 million in 2025; France: 14.17 million in 2001 to 14.54 million in 2025.09.77 million19.54 million29.31 million39.08 million200120132025Russian FederationItalyGermanyPolandFrance
Rural population over time, top 5 (people). Russian Federation: 39.08 million in 2001 to 35.52 million in 2025; Italy: 18.65 million in 2001 to 17.86 million in 2025; Germany: 16.38 million in 2001 to 14.91 million in 2025; Poland: 14.63 million in 2001 to 14.54 million in 2025; France: 14.17 million in 2001 to 14.54 million in 2025.
Share of the total: Rural populationRussian Federation 19.4%; Italy 9.8%; Germany 8.1%; Poland 7.9%; France 7.9%; All others 46.8%19%10%8%8%8%47%

Russian Federation 19.4%Italy 9.8%Germany 8.1%Poland 7.9%France 7.9%All others 46.8%

Share of the total: Rural population, as a share of 49 countries in Europe. Russian Federation 19.4%; Italy 9.8%; Germany 8.1%; Poland 7.9%; France 7.9%; All others 46.8%.

Full ranking

Countries in Europe Ranked by Rural population, 2025
RankCountryRural population (people)
1Russian Federation35,519,000
2Italy17,863,000
3Germany14,913,000
4Poland14,543,000
5France14,538,000
6Ukraine11,852,000
7United Kingdom11,588,000
8Spain9,616,900
9Romania9,096,800
10Portugal4,160,400
11Czechia2,953,000
12Austria2,788,700
13Hungary2,788,300
14Slovak Republic2,534,000
15Serbia2,446,900
16Greece2,163,500
17Ireland1,942,100
18Belarus1,863,100
19Bulgaria1,661,500
20Croatia1,635,200
21Bosnia and Herzegovina1,485,500
22Belgium1,472,100
23Finland1,438,400
24Moldova1,328,200
25Switzerland1,297,700
26Sweden1,157,400
27Albania966,350
28Slovenia937,830
29Norway921,830
30Lithuania893,160
31Kosovo773,840
32Netherlands734,610
33North Macedonia675,720
34Denmark670,270
35Latvia579,600
36Cyprus456,530
37Estonia400,090
38Montenegro214,300
39Channel Islands113,470
40Isle of Man40,262
41Luxembourg35,144
42Liechtenstein35,022
43Faroe Islands33,136
44Malta25,040
45Iceland22,689
46Andorra9,161
47San Marino959
48Gibraltar0
49Monaco0

About the top 10

#5 France

France ranks #5 on this list with 14.54 million people.

Capital
Paris
Continent
Europe
Income group
High income
Population
68.72 million people (2025)
GDP
US$3.37 trillion (2025)
GDP per person
US$48,986 (2025)
Life expectancy
83 years (2024)
Urban population
78.8% of population (2025)

Largest cities: Paris, Metropolis of Lyon, Bordeaux Métropole.

Also ranks #1 in tourism arrivals · #1 in account ownership (female) share · #3 in remittances received.

Full country profile Weather in Paris (Purr Weather)

#7 United Kingdom

United Kingdom ranks #7 on this list with 11.59 million people.

Capital
London
Continent
Europe
Income group
High income
Population
69.49 million people (2025)
GDP
US$4 trillion (2025)
GDP per person
US$57,602 (2025)
Life expectancy
81.4 years (2024)
Urban population
83.3% of population (2025)

Largest cities: London, Birmingham, Glasgow.

Also ranks #2 in government debt share of gdp · #2 in new businesses registered · #4 in exports of goods and services.

Full country profile Weather in London (Purr Weather)

Profile facts: World Bank (CC BY 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0); weather links go to Purr Weather, another ChowChow Labs site.

Related rankings

Source and method

Rural population: each country's latest value (2020–2025), ranked from highest to lowest.

Source: The World Bank, indicator SP.RUR.TOTL. Licence: CC BY 4.0. Retrieved: 2026-11-14.

The World Bank: Rural population: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN) (via World Development Indicators)

Original data provider, as recorded by the World Bank: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN); Staff estimates, World Bank (WB), note: World Bank staff estimates based on the United Nations Population Division's World Urbanization Prospe.

Values are shown as published. Provider terms: The World Bank. All licences: Sources & licences.