Demographics
Urban Population
Definition
The share of a country's population living in urban areas, as defined by national statistical offices.
Explanation
Over 56% of the world's population now lives in cities — up from 30% in 1950, projected to reach 68% by 2050. Urbanization drives economic growth through agglomeration effects but also creates challenges: housing, pollution, inequality, and infrastructure strain. The most urbanized countries include city-states like Singapore (100%) and Monaco.
See Current Data
Explore urban population data for all 218 countries with interactive charts and historical trends.
View Urban Population Rankings →