Urban Population Share 2050 2025
Urban population share by 2050 shows urbanization trends. Discover which countries will be most urbanized.
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Complete Data Rankings
Rank | Actions | ||
|---|---|---|---|
1 | Anguilla | 100 % | |
2 | Bahrain | 100 % | |
3 | Bermuda | 100 % | |
4 | Cayman Islands | 100 % | |
5 | Gibraltar | 100 % | |
6 | China, Hong Kong SAR | 100 % | |
7 | Kuwait | 100 % | |
8 | China, Macao SAR | 100 % | |
9 | Monaco | 100 % | |
10 | Nauru | 100 % | |
11 | Saint Barthélemy | 100 % | |
12 | Saint Martin (French part) | 100 % | |
13 | Singapore | 100 % | |
14 | Sint Maarten (Dutch part) | 100 % | |
15 | Holy See | 100 % | |
16 | Qatar | 99.359 % | |
17 | Réunion | 97.254 % | |
18 | San Marino | 97.187 % | |
19 | Martinique | 96.823 % | |
20 | Guadeloupe | 96.449 % | |
21 | Netherlands | 95.939 % | |
22 | Malta | 95.681 % | |
23 | Uruguay | 95.654 % | |
24 | United States Virgin Islands | 95.389 % | |
25 | Luxembourg | 94.884 % | |
26 | Mayotte | 94.444 % | |
27 | Turks and Caicos Islands | 94.396 % | |
28 | Puerto Rico | 94.34 % | |
29 | Guam | 94.22 % | |
30 | Iceland | 94.218 % | |
31 | Jordan | 93.209 % | |
32 | Argentina | 92.352 % | |
33 | Japan | 92.3 % | |
34 | Northern Mariana Islands | 92.177 % | |
35 | Gabon | 92.088 % | |
36 | Israel | 91.578 % | |
37 | Curaçao | 91.473 % | |
38 | Lebanon | 90.96 % | |
39 | Saint Pierre and Miquelon | 90.169 % | |
40 | Turkey | 89.494 % | |
41 | Venezuela | 89.322 % | |
42 | Chile | 89.177 % | |
43 | Sweden | 89.078 % | |
44 | Andorra | 88.949 % | |
45 | Denmark | 88.846 % | |
46 | Greenland | 88.574 % | |
47 | Brazil | 88.177 % | |
48 | Libya | 87.911 % | |
49 | Australia | 87.719 % | |
50 | Belgium | 87.673 % | |
51 | State of Palestine | 87.382 % | |
52 | Western Sahara | 86.884 % | |
53 | French Guiana | 86.616 % | |
54 | United Arab Emirates | 85.962 % | |
55 | Switzerland | 85.727 % | |
56 | Peru | 85.596 % | |
57 | Saudi Arabia | 84.612 % | |
58 | New Zealand | 83.998 % | |
59 | Norway | 83.571 % | |
60 | United Kingdom | 83.324 % | |
61 | Canada | 82.876 % | |
62 | Germany | 82.138 % | |
63 | Falkland Islands (Malvinas) | 81.53 % | |
64 | Bahamas | 81.331 % | |
65 | South Korea | 81.174 % | |
66 | Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba | 81.103 % | |
67 | Spain | 80.515 % | |
68 | American Samoa | 80.512 % | |
69 | United States | 80.192 % | |
70 | Mexico | 80.041 % | |
71 | Costa Rica | 79.727 % | |
72 | Belarus | 79.495 % | |
73 | Oman | 79.478 % | |
74 | Palau | 79.284 % | |
75 | Greece | 79.225 % | |
76 | Marshall Islands | 79.106 % | |
77 | Taiwan | 78.923 % | |
78 | France | 78.845 % | |
79 | Colombia | 78.783 % | |
80 | Cabo Verde | 77.63 % | |
81 | Malaysia | 77.395 % | |
82 | Iran | 77.376 % | |
83 | Cuba | 77.227 % | |
84 | Cook Islands | 76.895 % | |
85 | Algeria | 75.819 % | |
86 | El Salvador | 75.524 % | |
87 | Russia | 75.251 % | |
88 | Brunei Darussalam | 75.011 % | |
89 | Finland | 74.525 % | |
90 | Bulgaria | 74.173 % | |
91 | Dominica | 73.986 % | |
92 | Djibouti | 72.976 % | |
93 | Czech Republic | 72.875 % | |
94 | Dominican Republic | 72.518 % | |
95 | Syrian Arab Republic | 72.084 % | |
96 | Equatorial Guinea | 71.576 % | |
97 | Bolivia | 71.563 % | |
98 | Angola | 71.462 % | |
99 | Mongolia | 71.145 % | |
100 | Estonia | 70.721 % | |
101 | Tunisia | 70.703 % | |
102 | Hungary | 70.694 % | |
103 | Paraguay | 70.39 % | |
104 | Iraq | 69.94 % | |
105 | Austria | 69.715 % | |
106 | Italy | 69.681 % | |
107 | Ukraine | 69.595 % | |
108 | Sao Tome and Principe | 69.172 % | |
109 | Lithuania | 69.082 % | |
110 | Latvia | 68.633 % | |
111 | New Caledonia | 68.172 % | |
112 | Botswana | 67.956 % | |
113 | Nepal | 66.999 % | |
114 | Cyprus | 66.695 % | |
115 | China | 66.343 % | |
116 | Panama | 66.15 % | |
117 | Armenia | 65.929 % | |
118 | Suriname | 65.789 % | |
119 | Montenegro | 65.609 % | |
120 | Tuvalu | 65.448 % | |
121 | Gambia | 64.988 % | |
122 | Ireland | 64.588 % | |
123 | North Korea | 64.19 % | |
124 | Congo | 64.124 % | |
125 | South Africa | 63.815 % | |
126 | Nigeria | 63.775 % | |
127 | Ecuador | 63.392 % | |
128 | Kiribati | 63.385 % | |
129 | Morocco | 63.128 % | |
130 | North Macedonia | 62.891 % | |
131 | Thailand | 62.799 % | |
132 | Serbia | 62.638 % | |
133 | Kazakhstan | 62.386 % | |
134 | French Polynesia | 61.758 % | |
135 | Aruba | 61.749 % | |
136 | Portugal | 61.495 % | |
137 | Mauritania | 61.489 % | |
138 | Georgia | 61.178 % | |
139 | Poland | 60.085 % | |
140 | Barbados | 59.7 % | |
141 | Fiji | 59.544 % | |
142 | Nicaragua | 59.444 % | |
143 | Jamaica | 59.425 % | |
144 | Indonesia | 59.393 % | |
145 | Honduras | 59.252 % | |
146 | Ghana | 58.925 % | |
147 | Albania | 58.871 % | |
148 | Azerbaijan | 58.637 % | |
149 | Croatia | 57.814 % | |
150 | British Virgin Islands | 57.395 % | |
151 | Guatemala | 56.297 % | |
152 | Liberia | 56.082 % | |
153 | Slovenia | 55.991 % | |
154 | Philippines | 55.773 % | |
155 | Senegal | 55.767 % | |
156 | Cameroon | 55.669 % | |
157 | Haiti | 55.615 % | |
158 | Somalia | 55.14 % | |
159 | Côte d'Ivoire | 54.549 % | |
160 | Trinidad and Tobago | 53.97 % | |
161 | Benin | 53.362 % | |
162 | Slovakia | 53.194 % | |
163 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 52.692 % | |
164 | Romania | 52.173 % | |
165 | Isle of Man | 52.136 % | |
166 | Uzbekistan | 51.017 % | |
167 | Namibia | 50.867 % | |
168 | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 47.981 % | |
169 | Turkmenistan | 47.105 % | |
170 | Guinea-Bissau | 46.651 % | |
171 | Sierra Leone | 45.927 % | |
172 | Zambia | 45.917 % | |
173 | Seychelles | 45.483 % | |
174 | Congo, Democratic Republic of the | 45.114 % | |
175 | Lesotho | 44.67 % | |
176 | Central African Republic | 44.553 % | |
177 | Togo | 44.395 % | |
178 | Republic of Moldova | 43.734 % | |
179 | Bhutan | 43.43 % | |
180 | Egypt | 42.904 % | |
181 | Maldives | 42.506 % | |
182 | Belize | 41.562 % | |
183 | Cambodia | 41.106 % | |
184 | Zimbabwe | 40.495 % | |
185 | Laos | 40.313 % | |
186 | Faroe Islands | 39.643 % | |
187 | Pakistan | 39.526 % | |
188 | Mauritius | 39.037 % | |
189 | Vietnam | 38.83 % | |
190 | Guinea | 38.517 % | |
191 | Saint Helena | 37.233 % | |
192 | Mozambique | 37.208 % | |
193 | Niue | 37.194 % | |
194 | Yemen | 37.034 % | |
195 | Tanzania | 36.883 % | |
196 | Grenada | 36.671 % | |
197 | India | 35.689 % | |
198 | Sudan | 34.935 % | |
199 | Kyrgyzstan | 34.746 % | |
200 | Eritrea | 34.54 % | |
201 | Jersey | 34.533 % | |
202 | Comoros | 33.942 % | |
203 | Bangladesh | 33.24 % | |
204 | Madagascar | 32.902 % | |
205 | Mali | 32.213 % | |
206 | Kenya | 32.212 % | |
207 | Uganda | 31.94 % | |
208 | Saint Kitts and Nevis | 31.899 % | |
209 | Solomon Islands | 31.309 % | |
210 | Rwanda | 30.913 % | |
211 | Myanmar | 30.584 % | |
212 | Guernsey | 29.595 % | |
213 | Saint Lucia | 29.097 % | |
214 | Burkina Faso | 28.923 % | |
215 | Timor-Leste | 28.786 % | |
216 | Chad | 27.566 % | |
217 | Eswatini | 26.721 % | |
218 | Guyana | 26.491 % | |
219 | Tajikistan | 26.165 % | |
220 | Afghanistan | 25.94 % | |
221 | Burundi | 25.687 % | |
222 | Antigua and Barbuda | 24.333 % | |
223 | Ethiopia | 24.11 % | |
224 | Micronesia (Fed. States of) | 22.481 % | |
225 | Vanuatu | 22.322 % | |
226 | South Sudan | 21.684 % | |
227 | Tonga | 21.156 % | |
228 | Sri Lanka | 20.45 % | |
229 | Niger | 18.374 % | |
230 | Malawi | 17.595 % | |
231 | Samoa | 17.506 % | |
232 | Papua New Guinea | 15.78 % | |
233 | Liechtenstein | 14.63 % | |
234 | Montserrat | 8.98 % | |
235 | Tokelau | 0 % | |
236 | Wallis and Futuna Islands | 0 % |
- #1
Anguilla
- #2
Bahrain
- #3
Bermuda
- #4
Cayman Islands
- #5
Gibraltar
- #6
China, Hong Kong SAR
- #7
Kuwait
- #8
China, Macao SAR
- #9
Monaco
- #10
Nauru
Analysis: These countries represent the highest values in this dataset, showcasing significant scale and impact on global statistics.
- #236
Wallis and Futuna Islands
- #235
Tokelau
- #234
Montserrat
- #233
Liechtenstein
- #232
Papua New Guinea
- #231
Samoa
- #230
Malawi
- #229
Niger
- #228
Sri Lanka
- #227
Tonga
Context: These countries or territories have the lowest values, often due to geographic size, administrative status, or specific characteristics.
Analysis & Context
As of 2025, the Urban Population Share 2050 reveals that Bermuda, along with several other regions, leads with a perfect 100% urbanization rate, while the global range spans from a minimum of 34.54% in Eritrea to a maximum of 100% in various countries. The average global urban population share for 2050 is projected at 70.75%, highlighting significant urbanization trends worldwide.
Exploring Maximum Urbanization: 100% Urban Population Share
The data shows that ten countries or regions, including Bermuda, Bahrain, and Kuwait, are anticipated to reach a total urban population by 2050. This phenomenon is often driven by limited geographical space combined with strong economic incentives that support urban infrastructure development. For instance, Bahrain and Kuwait benefit from substantial oil revenues that enable investments in urban planning and development. Additionally, Hong Kong SAR and Macao SAR are densely populated regions with economies heavily reliant on service sectors, necessitating a fully urbanized environment to function efficiently.
Challenges in Urbanization: Countries with Low Urban Population Share
At the other end of the spectrum, countries like Eritrea (34.54%), Sudan (34.93%), and India (35.69%) are projected to have low urban population shares by 2050. Several factors contribute to this, including slower economic growth, high rural population retention, and limited infrastructure development. In India, despite rapid urbanization in certain cities, a significant portion of the population remains in rural areas due to cultural ties and agricultural dependency. Similarly, countries like Tanzania and Yemen face economic and political challenges that hinder large-scale urban migration and development.
Urbanization Trends and Year-over-Year Changes
The average year-over-year change in urban population share is 0.24%, indicating a gradual shift towards urban living globally. Notably, Lesotho (+0.99%), Thailand (+0.93%), and Kiribati (+0.92%) exhibit the largest increases. This growth can be attributed to economic reforms and investments in urban infrastructure, which attract rural populations to cities. For instance, Thailand's economic diversification efforts have led to increased urban employment opportunities, driving urbanization.
Conversely, regions like American Samoa (-0.43%) and Belize (-0.19%) show declining urban population shares. These decreases may be due to emigration or a reclassification of urban areas. In American Samoa, for example, outmigration to the mainland United States reduces urban population growth, impacting overall urbanization rates.
Significance of Urbanization Trends
The projected urban population share for 2050 underscores significant implications for global development. Countries with high urbanization rates, such as Bermuda and China, Hong Kong SAR, are likely to experience continued economic growth and improved living standards due to efficient resource allocation and infrastructure. However, they may also face challenges like overpopulation and environmental degradation.
In contrast, nations with lower urbanization rates must address rural development and infrastructure gaps to enhance economic opportunities and improve living conditions. India and Sudan must tackle these issues to prevent urban-rural disparities from widening. Overall, understanding urbanization trends helps policymakers and stakeholders plan for sustainable development and manage the socio-economic impacts of urban growth effectively.
Frequently Asked Questions About Urban Population Share 2050 in 2025
Which country is projected to have the highest urban population share by 2050?
Bermuda is projected to have the highest urban population share by 2050, with 100%.
Which country is projected to have the lowest urban population share by 2050?
Wallis and Futuna Islands are projected to have the lowest urban population share by 2050, with 0%.
What is the average urban population share by 2050 for all countries in the dataset?
The average urban population share by 2050 for all countries in the dataset is 63.69%.
What is the median urban population share by 2050 for all countries in the dataset?
The median urban population share by 2050 for all countries in the dataset is 65.7%.
How many countries are projected to have an urban population share of 100% by 2050?
Ten countries are projected to have an urban population share of 100% by 2050.
What is the urban population share range between the highest and lowest countries by 2050?
The range of urban population share by 2050 is from 0% to 100%.
Insights by country
Seychelles
Seychelles is projected to have an Urban Population Share 2050 of 45.482838 %, ranking #173 out of 236 countries in 2025. This figure is notably lower than the global average, indicating a slower pace of urbanization compared to many other nations. The relatively low urban population share can be attributed to Seychelles' small size and geographic constraints, which limit large-scale urban development, coupled with a strong emphasis on preserving its natural environment and tourism-driven economy.
Liberia
Liberia ranks #152 globally with an urban population share of 56.081974% projected for 2050. This figure is notably lower than the global average, reflecting ongoing challenges in urbanization compared to more developed nations. Key drivers of this statistic include Liberia's post-conflict recovery phase, which has hindered infrastructure development, and a significant rural population that remains dependent on agriculture. Additionally, rapid urban migration is expected as economic opportunities grow in cities, but the pace may not keep up with regional counterparts.
Andorra
In 2025, Andorra ranks #44 globally with an Urban Population Share 2050 of 88.949265 %. This figure is notably higher than the global average, reflecting urbanization trends in developed regions. The high urban population share is driven by Andorra's small geographic size, which encourages concentrated development in urban areas, alongside its robust tourism sector that attracts a significant number of residents and visitors alike.
Chad
Chad ranks #216 globally with an Urban Population Share 2050 of 27.565878 %. This figure is significantly lower than the global average, indicating a slower urbanization rate compared to many other nations.
The low urban population share is driven by factors such as limited economic opportunities and ongoing conflicts that hinder migration to urban areas. Additionally, Chad's geographic challenges and underdeveloped infrastructure further restrict urban growth.
Faroe Islands
The Faroe Islands ranks #186 globally with an Urban Population Share 2050 of 39.643322 %. This figure is significantly lower than many countries, reflecting the islands' remote geography and small population size, which influences urbanization trends. The limited economic opportunities outside of the capital, Tórshavn, alongside a strong cultural emphasis on rural living, contribute to this relatively low urban population share.
New Caledonia
New Caledonia ranks #111 globally with an Urban Population Share 2050 of 68.17179 % in 2025. This figure is below the global average urbanization rate, indicating a slower transition to urban living compared to many other regions. The key drivers for New Caledonia's urban population growth include its economic development centered around mining and tourism, as well as its relatively small population size which influences urban planning and infrastructure development.
Argentina
Argentina ranks #32 globally with an urban population share of 92.35192% projected for 2050. This figure is notably higher than the regional average for South America, reflecting a significant trend towards urbanization. Key drivers include the concentration of economic opportunities in urban areas, particularly in Buenos Aires, and ongoing migration from rural regions as citizens seek better living standards and employment prospects.
Botswana
Botswana ranks #112 globally with an Urban Population Share 2050 of 67.955956 % as of 2025. This figure is notably lower than the regional average for Southern Africa, indicating a slower pace of urbanization compared to some neighbors. Key drivers for this statistic include Botswana's relatively stable economic growth and effective land management policies, which have maintained a balance between urban expansion and rural development.
Solomon Islands
In 2025, the Solomon Islands ranks #209 globally with an Urban Population Share 2050 of 31.309319 %. This figure is significantly lower than many neighboring Pacific island nations, indicating a slower pace of urbanization. Contributing factors include the country's rugged geography, which limits infrastructure development, and a predominantly rural population engaged in subsistence agriculture. Additionally, economic challenges and limited job opportunities in urban areas hinder migration to cities.
Italy
In 2025, Italy ranks #106 globally with an Urban Population Share 2050 of 69.68086 %. This figure is below the European average, indicating a slower urbanization rate compared to its neighbors. Key drivers of this statistic include Italy's aging population and economic challenges that influence migration patterns, leading to a relatively stable urban growth compared to more rapidly urbanizing nations.
Data Source
Share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 | Our World in Data
Our World in Data is a research organization that provides comprehensive data and visualizations on global development issues, including the share of the population living in urban areas. The dataset projects urbanization trends up to 2050, offering country-level statistics to analyze shifts in population distribution.
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