Urban population share — all countries

Urban population share — Lower-middle-income countries

Urban population share in lower-middle-income countries in 2025 — 43.4%. Since 1960, the indicator has risen by 23.3 pp.

2025 43.4% +0.4 pp vs 2024
World rank
Period maximum 43.4%2025
Period minimum 20.1%1960

Trend over time

1960–2025 · % of population

Urban population share — Lower-middle-income countries, 1960–20252030405019601967197419811988199520022009201620231960: 20.1%1962: 20.6%1964: 21.2%1966: 21.8%1968: 22.5%1970: 23.2%1972: 24%1974: 24.7%1976: 25.6%1978: 26.5%1980: 27.4%1982: 28.1%1984: 28.7%1986: 29.3%1988: 29.8%1990: 30.4%1992: 31%1994: 31.5%1996: 32%1998: 32.6%2000: 33.2%2002: 33.9%2004: 34.7%2006: 35.6%2008: 36.5%2010: 37.4%2012: 38.3%2014: 39.1%2016: 39.9%2018: 40.7%2020: 41.4%2022: 42.2%2024: 43%2025: 43.4%
Change over the period: +23.3 pp Annual average: 0.36 pp

Comparison, 2025

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Lower-middle-income countries

Lower-middle-income countries 43.4%
World 57.8%
Urban population share — Lower-middle-income countries, by year Lower-middle-income countries All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 43.4 +0.4 pp
2024 43 +0.4 pp
2023 42.6 +0.4 pp
2022 42.2 +0.4 pp
2021 41.8 +0.4 pp
2020 41.4 +0.4 pp
2019 41.1 +0.4 pp
2018 40.7 +0.4 pp
2017 40.3 +0.4 pp
2016 39.9 +0.4 pp
2015 39.5 +0.4 pp
2014 39.1 +0.4 pp
2013 38.7 +0.4 pp
2012 38.3 +0.4 pp
2011 37.9 +0.4 pp
2010 37.4 +0.4 pp
2009 37 +0.5 pp
2008 36.5 +0.5 pp
2007 36.1 +0.5 pp
2006 35.6 +0.5 pp
2005 35.2 +0.4 pp
2004 34.7 +0.4 pp
2003 34.3 +0.4 pp
2002 33.9 +0.4 pp
2001 33.5 +0.3 pp
2000 33.2 +0.3 pp
1999 32.9 +0.3 pp
1998 32.6 +0.3 pp
1997 32.3 +0.3 pp
1996 32 +0.3 pp
1995 31.7 +0.3 pp
1994 31.5 +0.3 pp
1993 31.2 +0.3 pp
1992 31 +0.3 pp
1991 30.7 +0.3 pp
1990 30.4 +0.3 pp
1989 30.1 +0.3 pp
1988 29.8 +0.3 pp
1987 29.5 +0.3 pp
1986 29.3 +0.3 pp
1985 29 +0.3 pp
1984 28.7 +0.3 pp
1983 28.4 +0.3 pp
1982 28.1 +0.3 pp
1981 27.7 +0.4 pp
1980 27.4 +0.4 pp
1979 27 +0.4 pp
1978 26.5 +0.5 pp
1977 26.1 +0.5 pp
1976 25.6 +0.5 pp
1975 25.1 +0.4 pp
1974 24.7 +0.3 pp
1973 24.4 +0.4 pp
1972 24 +0.4 pp
1971 23.6 +0.4 pp
1970 23.2 +0.3 pp
1969 22.9 +0.4 pp
1968 22.5 +0.4 pp
1967 22.1 +0.3 pp
1966 21.8 +0.3 pp
1965 21.5 +0.3 pp
1964 21.2 +0.3 pp
1963 20.9 +0.3 pp
1962 20.6 +0.3 pp
1961 20.4 +0.3 pp
1960 20.1

About the indicator

The share of population living in urban settlements, as a percent of the total. One caveat is central: each country sets the criteria for a city itself — in some places it is a settlement of 2,000 residents or more, in others 20,000, in others administrative status. Cross-country comparisons of urbanization are therefore always approximate, while the trend within a single country is informative.

Important: Sharp jumps in individual years are usually explained not by people moving but by changes in the administrative boundaries of cities.

Source: World Population Prospects (UN), license CC BY 3.0 IGO.