Official Statistics

Defining rural areas using the rural urban classification

• From: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
• Part of: Rural living - statistical indicators and Rural economy and community
• Published: 25 June 2015
• Last updated: 9 March 2017, see all updates
• Applies to: England

How rural areas are defined using the Rural Urban Classification.

Documents

Defining rural areas

PDF, 1010KB, 5 pages

Details

The Rural Urban Classification is used to distinguish rural and urban areas. The Classification defines areas as rural if they fall outside of settlements with more than 10,000 resident population.

Coverage: England

Rural classification used: Office for National Statistics Rural Urban Classification

Further information:

• rural urban classification

Defra statistics: rural

Email rural.statistics@defra.gsi.gov.uk

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Document information

Published: 25 June 2015

Updated: 9 March 2017

+ full page history

1. 9 March 2017 Published today, updated note including revised colour schemes for rural urban classification
2. 21 July 2016 We’ve changed how we’ve organised rural statistics and updated the content following Lord Cameron’s review of rural proofing.
3. 28 January 2016 This version of 'Defining rural areas' includes minor updates (previously published elsewhere in the Statistical Digest of Rural England) to help explain how rural areas are defined using the local authority Rural-Urban Classification.
4. 25 June 2015 First published.

From: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs

Part of: Rural living - statistical indicators Rural economy and community