This is a list of countries by urbanization .
There are two measures of the degree of urbanization of a population. The first, urban population, describes the percentage of the total population living in urban areas, as defined by the country.
The second measure, rate of urbanization, describes the projected average rate of change of the size of the urban population over the given period of time.
As of 2022, countries with more than 80% of people living in urban areas include the United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Japan, Australia, the United Kingdom, France, Finland, Denmark, Israel, Spain and South Korea.
193 United Nations member states plus the Vatican are given a number, other entries are italicized and unnumbered.[ original research? ]
Country or territory | Urban population (2022) [1] | % of total population (2023) [2] | Urbanization rate (%) (2020–25 est.) [2] |
---|---|---|---|
Kuwait | 4,268,870 | 100.0 | 1.35 |
Monaco | 36,470 | 100.0 | 0.50 |
Nauru | 12,670 | 100.0 | 0.18 |
Singapore | 5,637,020 | 100.0 | 0.74 |
Vatican City | - | 100.0 | 0.00 |
Anguilla (UK) | - | 100.0 | 0.47 |
Bermuda (UK) | 63,530 | 100.0 | –0.20 |
Cayman Islands (UK) | 68,710 | 100.0 | 1.13 |
Gibraltar (UK) | 32,650 | 100.0 | 0.45 |
Hong Kong (China) | 7,346,100 | 100.0 | 0.58 |
Macau (China) | 695,170 | 100.0 | 1.46 |
Sint Maarten (Netherlands) | 42,850 | 100.0 | 1.16 |
Qatar | 2,676,740 | 99.4 | 1.66 |
Belgium | 11,469,980 | 98.2 | 0.38 |
San Marino | 32,900 | 97.8 | 0.41 |
U.S. Virgin Islands (US) | 101,340 | 96.2 | –0.11 |
Uruguay | 3,275,200 | 95.8 | 0.40 |
Guam (US) | 163,340 | 95.2 | 0.84 |
Malta | 503,890 | 94.9 | 0.28 |
Turks and Caicos Islands (UK) | 42,980 | 94.2 | 1.46 |
Iceland | 359,050 | 94.0 | 0.74 |
Puerto Rico (US) | 3,015,920 | 93.6 | −0.12 |
Netherlands | 16,441,730 | 93.2 | 0.59 |
Israel | 8,865,820 | 92.9 | 1.51 |
Argentina | 42,696,480 | 92.5 | 0.97 |
Luxembourg | 600,080 | 92.1 | 1.43 |
Northern Mariana Islands (US) | 45,580 | 92.1 | 0.36 |
Japan | 115,058,680 | 92.0 | −0.25 |
Jordan | 10,363,480 | 92.0 | 0.98 |
Gabon | 2,167,650 | 91.0 | 2.27 |
Saint Pierre and Miquelon (France) | - | 90.1 | 0.75 |
Bahrain | 1,321,230 | 89.9 | 1.99 |
Lebanon | 4,900,250 | 89.4 | –1.23 |
Curaçao (Netherlands) | 133,530 | 89.0 | 0.57 |
Sweden | 9,280,100 | 88.7 | 0.89 |
Denmark | 5,216,340 | 88.5 | 0.54 |
Oman | 4,015,700 | 88.4 | 2.32 |
Venezuela | 25,012,470 | 88.4 | 1.16 |
Chile | 17,234,030 | 88.0 | 0.78 |
Greenland (Denmark) | 49,710 | 87.9 | 0.41 |
Andorra | 70,090 | 87.8 | 0.11 |
Brazil | 188,517,730 | 87.8 | 0.87 |
United Arab Emirates | 8,265,050 | 87.8 | 1.50 |
American Samoa (US) | 38,600 | 87.2 | 0.26 |
New Zealand | 4,452,020 | 87.0 | 0.92 |
Australia | 22,491,670 | 86.6 | 1.27 |
Finland | 4,760,530 | 85.8 | 0.42 |
Saudi Arabia | 30,848,830 | 85.0 | 1.69 |
United Kingdom | 56,522,520 | 84.6 | 0.80 |
Dominican Republic | 9,415,140 | 84.4 | 1.64 |
Norway | 4,565,650 | 84.0 | 1.32 |
Bahamas | 342,300 | 83.6 | 1.02 |
United States | 276,908,630 | 83.3 | 0.96 |
Costa Rica | 4,250,460 | 82.6 | 1.50 |
Colombia | 42,562,640 | 82.4 | 1.01 |
Palau | 14,800 | 82.4 | 1.59 |
Canada | 31,825,970 | 81.9 | 0.95 |
France | 55,402,740 | 81.8 | 0.67 |
Libya | 5,538,570 | 81.6 | 1.45 |
Mexico | 103,660,850 | 81.6 | 1.40 |
Spain | 38,845,700 | 81.6 | 0.24 |
South Korea | 42,039,230 | 81.5 | 0.31 |
Belarus | 7,412,540 | 80.7 | 0.28 |
Greece | 8,378,760 | 80.7 | 0.11 |
Taiwan | - | 80.1 | 0.65 |
Falkland Islands (UK) | - | 79.7 | 0.53 |
Brunei | 354,060 | 79.1 | 1.44 |
Marshall Islands | 32,640 | 78.9 | 0.61 |
Peru | 26,799,750 | 78.9 | 1.33 |
Malaysia | 26,544,440 | 78.7 | 1.87 |
Djibouti | 878,520 | 78.6 | 1.56 |
Germany | 65,067,460 | 77.8 | 0.13 |
Palestine | 3,898,260 | 77.6 | 2.85 |
Cuba | 8,678,350 | 77.5 | 0.19 |
Turkey | 65,453,230 | 77.5 | 1.11 |
Iran | 68,013,040 | 77.3 | 1.32 |
Bulgaria | 4,936,940 | 76.7 | −0.28 |
São Tomé and Príncipe | 172,250 | 76.4 | 2.96 |
Cook Islands (New Zealand) | - | 76.2 | 0.52 |
El Salvador | 4,737,530 | 75.4 | 1.33 |
Algeria | 33,575,040 | 75.3 | 1.99 |
Russia | 108,359,440 | 75.3 | 0.11 |
Czech Republic | 7,937,600 | 74.6 | 0.20 |
Equatorial Guinea | 1,239,600 | 74.4 | 3.62 |
Switzerland | 6,502,140 | 74.2 | 0.79 |
Botswana | 1,899,700 | 72.9 | 2.47 |
Hungary | 6,996,220 | 72.9 | 0.05 |
New Caledonia (France) | 194,710 | 72.7 | 1.72 |
Dominica | 52,150 | 72.0 | 0.84 |
Italy | 42,234,940 | 72.0 | 0.27 |
Iraq | 31,749,760 | 71.6 | 2.91 |
Bolivia | 8,658,340 | 71.2 | 1.87 |
Tunisia | 8,675,720 | 70.5 | 1.34 |
Ukraine | 26,569,220 | 70.1 | −0.27 |
Estonia | 938,910 | 69.8 | -0.03 |
Panama | 3,048,140 | 69.5 | 1.92 |
Congo | 4,103,830 | 69.2 | 3.19 |
Mongolia | 2,342,490 | 69.1 | 1.40 |
South Africa | 40,928,490 | 68.8 | 1.72 |
Angola | 24,229,340 | 68.7 | 4.04 |
Latvia | 1,288,130 | 68.7 | −0.68 |
Lithuania | 1,938,680 | 68.7 | −0.12 |
Montenegro | 420,720 | 68.5 | 0.45 |
Cape Verde | 400,640 | 68.0 | 1.83 |
Portugal | 7,014,160 | 67.9 | 0.44 |
Cyprus | 837,380 | 67.0 | 0.76 |
Suriname | 409,800 | 66.4 | 0.88 |
Tuvalu | 7,410 | 66.2 | 2.08 |
Morocco | 24,196,350 | 65.1 | 1.88 |
Ecuador | 11,623,250 | 64.8 | 1.62 |
Albania | 1,772,140 | 64.6 | 1.29 |
China | 897,578,430 | 64.6 | 1.78 |
Gambia | 1,727,830 | 64.5 | 3.75 |
Ireland | 3,290,770 | 64.5 | 1.15 |
Armenia | 1,767,630 | 63.7 | 0.23 |
North Korea | 16,401,830 | 63.2 | 0.85 |
Paraguay | 4,259,530 | 63.1 | 1.64 |
French Polynesia (France) | 190,410 | 62.3 | 0.65 |
Georgia | 2,238,530 | 60.7 | 0.35 |
Honduras | 6,217,980 | 60.2 | 2.48 |
Poland | 22,142,390 | 60.2 | −0.16 |
Nicaragua | 4,138,180 | 59.8 | 1.45 |
Haiti | 6,814,300 | 59.7 | 2.47 |
Austria | 5,357,840 | 59.5 | 0.68 |
North Macedonia | 1,216,460 | 59.5 | 0.61 |
Cameroon | 16,395,040 | 59.3 | 3.43 |
Ghana | 19,621,880 | 59.2 | 3.06 |
Seychelles | 70,000 | 58.8 | 0.99 |
Fiji | 541,390 | 58.7 | 1.37 |
Croatia | 2,244,690 | 58.6 | 0.05 |
Indonesia | 159,608,950 | 58.6 | 1.99 |
Kazakhstan | 11,378,780 | 58.2 | 1.19 |
Kiribati | 74,880 | 57.8 | 2.77 |
Mauritania | 2,695,950 | 57.7 | 3.84 |
Azerbaijan | 5,798,040 | 57.6 | 1.38 |
World | 4,522,994,900 | 57.5 | 1.73 |
Jamaica | 1,611,830 | 57.4 | 0.79 |
Syria | 12,560,280 | 57.4 | 5.38 |
Serbia | 3,790,270 | 57.1 | 0.04 |
Slovenia | 1,177,450 | 56.1 | 0.54 |
Namibia | 1,385,060 | 54.9 | 3.64 |
Romania | 10,378,520 | 54.7 | –0.15 |
Nigeria | 116,965,440 | 54.3 | 3.92 |
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 56,000 | 54.3 | 0.94 |
Slovakia | 2,928,200 | 54.0 | 0.17 |
Turkmenistan | 3,440,080 | 54.0 | 2.23 |
Liberia | 2,813,870 | 53.6 | 3.41 |
Thailand | 37,919,840 | 53.6 | 1.43 |
Isle of Man (UK) | 45,020 | 53.5 | 0.97 |
Trinidad and Tobago | 816,660 | 53.4 | 0.23 |
Ivory Coast | 14,829,620 | 53.1 | 3.38 |
Guatemala | 9,141,700 | 53.1 | 2.59 |
Uzbekistan | 17,990,170 | 50.5 | 1.25 |
Bosnia and Herzegovina | 1,611,620 | 50.3 | 0.61 |
Kosovo [3] | 1,585,566 | 50.2 | - |
Benin | 6,614,210 | 50.1 | 3.74 |
British Virgin Islands (UK) | 15,440 | 49.7 | 1.73 |
Senegal | 8,499,950 | 49.6 | 3.59 |
Philippines | 55,441,750 | 48.3 | 2.04 |
Niue (New Zealand) | - | 48.2 | 1.43 |
Somalia | 8,327,850 | 47.9 | 4.20 |
DR Congo | 46,373,410 | 47.4 | 4.33 |
Belize | 188,030 | 46.6 | 2.30 |
Zambia | 9,160,290 | 46.3 | 4.15 |
Mali | 10,265,850 | 46.2 | 4.57 |
Guinea-Bissau | 948,370 | 45.5 | 3.22 |
Togo | 3,886,440 | 44.5 | 3.60 |
Bhutan | 341,820 | 44.4 | 2.52 |
Aruba (Netherlands) | 46,890 | 44.3 | 0.77 |
Sierra Leone | 3,771,970 | 44.3 | 3.02 |
Central African Republic | 2,405,730 | 43.6 | 3.32 |
Moldova | 1,096,120 | 43.4 | 0.09 |
Eritrea | 1,570,320 | 43.3 | 3.67 |
Egypt | 47,689,120 | 43.1 | 1.90 |
Faroe Islands (Denmark) | 22,710 | 43.0 | 0.89 |
Maldives | 217,560 | 42.0 | 2.34 |
Mauritius | 515,240 | 40.9 | 0.28 |
Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha (UK) | - | 40.7 | 0.98 |
Madagascar | 11,809,740 | 40.6 | 4.26 |
Bangladesh | 67,979,820 | 40.5 | 2.88 |
Yemen | 13,205,030 | 39.8 | 3.71 |
Vietnam | 38,063,120 | 39.5 | 2.70 |
Mozambique | 12,590,070 | 38.8 | 4.24 |
Laos | 2,830,480 | 38.2 | 2.99 |
Guinea | 5,220,540 | 38.1 | 3.64 |
Pakistan | 88,979,080 | 38.0 | 2.10 |
Kyrgyzstan | 2,612,870 | 37.8 | 2.05 |
Tanzania | 24,025,880 | 37.4 | 4.89 |
Grenada | 46,250 | 37.1 | 0.86 |
India | 508,368,360 | 36.4 | 2.33 |
Sudan | 16,854,090 | 36.3 | 3.43 |
Zimbabwe | 5,287,040 | 32.5 | 2.41 |
Burkina Faso | 7,227,720 | 32.5 | 4.75 |
Timor-Leste | 430,210 | 32.5 | 3.31 |
Myanmar | 17,213,310 | 32.1 | 1.85 |
Barbados | 88,220 | 31.4 | 0.46 |
Guernsey (UK) | - | 31.2 | 0.68 |
Jersey (UK) | - | 31.2 | 0.68 |
Saint Kitts and Nevis | 14,770 | 31.1 | 1.06 |
Lesotho | 690,430 | 30.4 | 2.77 |
Comoros | 249,890 | 30.1 | 2.97 |
Kenya | 15,669,050 | 29.5 | 4.09 |
Tajikistan | 2,783,590 | 28.2 | 2.73 |
Guyana | 218,530 | 27.2 | 1.01 |
Afghanistan | 10,946,830 | 26.9 | 3.34 |
Uganda | 12,360,020 | 26.8 | 5.41 |
Solomon Islands | 185,300 | 26.0 | 3.57 |
Vanuatu | 84,350 | 26.0 | 2.55 |
Cambodia | 4,211,080 | 25.6 | 3.06 |
Eswatini | 295,320 | 24.8 | 2.42 |
Chad | 4,264,760 | 24.4 | 4.10 |
Antigua and Barbuda | 22,830 | 24.3 | 0.87 |
Micronesia | 26,500 | 23.4 | 1.52 |
Ethiopia | 27,959,130 | 23.2 | 4.40 |
Tonga | 24,710 | 23.2 | 0.99 |
Nepal | 6,552,760 | 21.9 | 3.09 |
South Sudan | 2,274,960 | 21.2 | 4.12 |
Saint Lucia | 34,260 | 19.2 | 0.98 |
Sri Lanka | 4,220,160 | 19.2 | 1.22 |
Malawi | 3,668,880 | 18.3 | 4.41 |
Rwanda | 2,441,370 | 17.9 | 3.07 |
Samoa | 39,170 | 17.5 | −0.03 |
Niger | 4,427,580 | 17.1 | 4.72 |
Burundi | 1,858,290 | 14.8 | 5.43 |
Liechtenstein | 5,720 | 14.6 | 1.15 |
Papua New Guinea | 1,377,570 | 13.7 | 2.91 |
Montserrat (UK) | - | 9.3 | 0.94 |
Tokelau (New Zealand) | - | 0.0 | 0.00 |
Wallis and Futuna (France) | - | 0.0 | 0.00 |
Demographic features of the population of the Central African Republic include population density, ethnicity, education level, health of the populace, economic status, religious affiliations and other aspects of the population.
Demographics of Guinea describes the condition and overview of Guinea's peoples. Demographic topics include basic education, health, and population statistics as well as identified racial and religious affiliations.
Demographic features of the population of Rwanda include population density, ethnicity, education level, health of the populace, economic status, religious affiliations and other aspects.
Demographic features of the population of South Korea include population density, ethnicity, education level, health of the populace, economic status, religious affiliations, and other aspects of the population. The common language and especially culture are viewed as important elements by South Koreans in terms of identity, more than citizenship.
Demographic features of the population of Tanzania include population density, ethnicity, education level, health of the populace, economic status, religious affiliations, and other aspects of the population.
A megacity is a very large city, typically with a population of more than 10 million people. The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs in its 2018 "World Urbanization Prospects" report defines megacities as urban agglomerations with over 10 million inhabitants. A University of Bonn report holds that they are "usually defined as metropolitan areas with a total population of 10 million or more people". Elsewhere in other sources, from five to eight million is considered the minimum threshold, along with a population density of at least 2,000 per square kilometre. The terms conurbation, metropolis, and metroplex are also applied to the latter.
Urbanization is the population shift from rural to urban areas, the corresponding decrease in the proportion of people living in rural areas, and the ways in which societies adapt to this change. It can also mean population growth in urban areas instead of rural ones. It is predominantly the process by which towns and cities are formed and become larger as more people begin living and working in central areas.
A metropolitan area or metro is a region consisting of a densely populated urban agglomeration and its surrounding territories which share industries, commercial areas, transport network, infrastructures and housing. A metropolitan area usually comprises multiple principal cities, jurisdictions and municipalities: neighborhoods, townships, boroughs, cities, towns, exurbs, suburbs, counties, districts and even states and nations in areas like the eurodistricts. As social, economic and political institutions have changed, metropolitan areas have become key economic and political regions.
Population density is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geographical term.
A slum is a highly populated urban residential area consisting of densely packed housing units of weak build quality and often associated with poverty. The infrastructure in slums is often deteriorated or incomplete, and they are primarily inhabited by impoverished people. Although slums are usually located in urban areas, in some countries they can be located in suburban areas where housing quality is low and living conditions are poor. While slums differ in size and other characteristics, most lack reliable sanitation services, supply of clean water, reliable electricity, law enforcement, and other basic services. Slum residences vary from shanty houses to professionally built dwellings which, because of poor-quality construction or lack of basic maintenance, have deteriorated.
The category of newly industrialized country (NIC), newly industrialized economy (NIE) or middle income country is a socioeconomic classification applied to several countries around the world by political scientists and economists. They represent a subset of developing countries whose economic growth is much higher than that of other developing countries; and where the social consequences of industrialization, such as urbanization, are reorganizing society.
In general, a rural area or a countryside is a geographic area that is located outside towns and cities. Typical rural areas have a low population density and small settlements. Agricultural areas and areas with forestry are typically described as rural, as well as other areas lacking substantial development. Different countries have varying definitions of rural for statistical and administrative purposes.
An urban area is a human settlement with a high population density and an infrastructure of built environment. This is the core of a metropolitan statistical area in the United States, if it contains a population of more than 50,000.
A city proper is the geographical area contained within city limits. The term proper is not exclusive to cities; it can describe the geographical area within the boundaries of any given locality. The United Nations defines the term as "... the single political jurisdiction which contains the historical city centre."
The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) is the United Nations programme for human settlements and sustainable urban development. It was established in 1977 as an outcome of the first United Nations Conference on Human Settlements and Sustainable Urban Development held in Vancouver, Canada, in 1976. UN-Habitat maintains its headquarters at the United Nations Office at Nairobi, Kenya. It is mandated by the United Nations General Assembly to promote socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities with the goal of providing adequate shelter for all. It is a member of the United Nations Development Group. The mandate of UN-Habitat derives from the Habitat Agenda, adopted by the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements in Istanbul, Turkey, in 1996. The twin goals of the Habitat Agenda are adequate shelter for all and the development of sustainable human settlements in an urbanizing world.
Bangladesh is an under-developed nation. Despite rapid economic growth, poverty remains a major issue. However, poverty has declined sharply in recent history. Shortly after its independence, approximately 90% of the population lived under the poverty line. However, since economic reforms and trade liberalization of early 1990s, along with accelerated economic growth since early-2000s, Bangladesh have experienced a dramatic progress in reducing poverty. The remarkable progress in poverty alleviation has been recognized by international institutions. According to World Bank, more than 33 million Bangladeshi people have been lifted out of poverty since 2000; as measured by the percentage of people living on the equivalent of US$1.90 or less per day in 2011 purchasing price parity terms.
Earth has a human population of over 8 billion as of 2024, with an overall population density of 50 people per km2. Nearly 60% of the world's population lives in Asia, with more than 2.8 billion in the countries of India and China combined. The percentage shares of China, India and rest of South Asia of the world population have remained at similar levels for the last few thousand years of recorded history. The world's literacy rate has increased dramatically in the last 40 years, from 66.7% in 1979 to 86.3% today. Lower literacy levels are mostly attributable to poverty. Lower literacy rates are found mostly in South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa.
Urbanization in India began to accelerate after independence, due to the country's adoption of a mixed economy, which gave rise to the development of the private sector. The population residing in urban areas in India, according to the 1901 census, was 11.4%, increasing to 28.53% by the 2001 census, and is now currently 34% in 2017 according to the World Bank. According to a survey by the United Nations, in 2030 40.76% of country's population is expected to reside in urban areas. As per the World Bank, India, along with China, Indonesia, Nigeria, and the United States, will lead the world's urban population surge by 2050.
Climate change and cities are deeply connected. Cities are one of the greatest contributors and likely best opportunities for addressing climate change. Cities are also one of the most vulnerable parts of the human society to the effects of climate change, and likely one of the most important solutions for reducing the environmental impact of humans. The UN projects that 68% of the world population will live in urban areas by 2050. In the year 2016, 31 mega-cities reported having at least 10 million in their population, 8 of which surpassed 20 million people. However, secondary cities - small to medium size cities are rapidly increasing in number and are some of the fastest growing urbanizing areas in the world further contributing to climate change impacts. Cities have a significant influence on construction and transportation—two of the key contributors to global warming emissions. Moreover, because of processes that create climate conflict and climate refugees, city areas are expected to grow during the next several decades, stressing infrastructure and concentrating more impoverished peoples in cities.