Official Statistics

Defining rural areas using the rural urban classification

How rural areas are defined using the Rural Urban Classification.

• From: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
• Published: 25 June 2015
• Last updated: 9 March 2017 — See all updates

Applies to England

Documents

Defining rural areas

PDF, 1010 KB, 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

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Published 25 June 2015
Last updated 9 March 2017 + show all updates

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.