Urban population share — all countries

Urban population share — Middle East & North Africa

Urban population share in Middle East & North Africa in 2025 — 56%. Since 1960, the indicator has risen by 26.3 pp.

2025 56% +0.3 pp vs 2024
World rank
Period maximum 56%2025
Period minimum 29.7%1960

Trend over time

1960–2025 · % of population

Urban population share — Middle East & North Africa, 1960–2025203040506019601967197419811988199520022009201620231960: 29.7%1962: 31%1964: 32.2%1966: 33.3%1968: 34.5%1970: 35.6%1972: 36.8%1974: 38%1976: 39%1978: 40.1%1980: 41.3%1982: 42.6%1984: 43.6%1986: 44.5%1988: 45.3%1990: 46%1992: 46.6%1994: 47%1996: 47.5%1998: 48.1%2000: 48.7%2002: 49.3%2004: 49.8%2006: 50.4%2008: 51%2010: 51.5%2012: 52.3%2014: 53.3%2016: 53.9%2018: 54.2%2020: 54.7%2022: 55.1%2024: 55.7%2025: 56%
Change over the period: +26.3 pp Annual average: 0.4 pp

Comparison, 2025

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Middle East & North Africa

Middle East & North Africa 56%
World 57.8%
Urban population share — Middle East & North Africa, by year Middle East & North Africa All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 56 +0.3 pp
2024 55.7 +0.3 pp
2023 55.4 +0.3 pp
2022 55.1 +0.3 pp
2021 54.8 +0.1 pp
2020 54.7 +0.2 pp
2019 54.4 +0.2 pp
2018 54.2 +0.2 pp
2017 54.1 +0.2 pp
2016 53.9 +0.3 pp
2015 53.6 +0.3 pp
2014 53.3 +0.4 pp
2013 52.9 +0.6 pp
2012 52.3 +0.5 pp
2011 51.8 +0.3 pp
2010 51.5 +0.2 pp
2009 51.3 +0.3 pp
2008 51 +0.3 pp
2007 50.7 +0.3 pp
2006 50.4 +0.3 pp
2005 50.1 +0.3 pp
2004 49.8 +0.3 pp
2003 49.5 +0.2 pp
2002 49.3 +0.3 pp
2001 49 +0.3 pp
2000 48.7 +0.3 pp
1999 48.4 +0.3 pp
1998 48.1 +0.3 pp
1997 47.8 +0.3 pp
1996 47.5 +0.2 pp
1995 47.3 +0.3 pp
1994 47 +0.2 pp
1993 46.8 +0.2 pp
1992 46.6 +0.3 pp
1991 46.2 +0.3 pp
1990 46 +0.3 pp
1989 45.7 +0.3 pp
1988 45.3 +0.4 pp
1987 44.9 +0.4 pp
1986 44.5 +0.5 pp
1985 44 +0.5 pp
1984 43.6 +0.5 pp
1983 43.1 +0.5 pp
1982 42.6 +0.6 pp
1981 41.9 +0.7 pp
1980 41.3 +0.6 pp
1979 40.7 +0.6 pp
1978 40.1 +0.5 pp
1977 39.6 +0.6 pp
1976 39 +0.5 pp
1975 38.5 +0.6 pp
1974 38 +0.6 pp
1973 37.4 +0.6 pp
1972 36.8 +0.6 pp
1971 36.2 +0.6 pp
1970 35.6 +0.6 pp
1969 35 +0.6 pp
1968 34.5 +0.6 pp
1967 33.9 +0.6 pp
1966 33.3 +0.5 pp
1965 32.8 +0.6 pp
1964 32.2 +0.6 pp
1963 31.6 +0.6 pp
1962 31 +0.7 pp
1961 30.3 +0.6 pp
1960 29.7

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.