Fact-check · Sep 9, 2026 · Donald Trump
“There are 60,000,000 Americans living in rural areas”
TRUE
What the record shows
Census Bureau ACS data (2011-2015): ~60 million rural residents. USDA ERS (July 2024): 46.2 million in nonmetropolitan counties. Definition varies by agency.
Sources
- Rural population reaches 46.2 million in 2024 | Economic Research Service
- Rural county population growth has continued in recent years | Economic Research Service
- U.S. Rural Population (1960-2025)
- United States - Rural Population - 2026 Data 2027 Forecast 1960-2024 Historical
- Demographics of the United States
- Migration to rural America resulted in population growth last year, census shows • Kentucky Lantern
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