Urban population share — all countries

Urban population share — NATO

Urban population share in NATO in 2025 — 79.2%. Since 1960, the indicator has risen by 17.1 pp.

2025 79.2% +0.1 pp vs 2024
World rank
Period maximum 79.2%2025
Period minimum 62.1%1960

Trend over time

1960–2025 · % of population

Urban population share — NATO, 1960–2025606570758019601967197419811988199520022009201620231960: 62.1%1962: 63%1964: 64.1%1966: 65.2%1968: 66.1%1970: 66.8%1972: 67.4%1974: 67.9%1976: 68.3%1978: 68.7%1980: 69.2%1982: 69.5%1984: 69.9%1986: 70.3%1988: 70.7%1990: 71.1%1992: 71.5%1994: 72.1%1996: 72.7%1998: 73.3%2000: 73.8%2002: 74.4%2004: 74.9%2006: 75.4%2008: 75.8%2010: 76.2%2012: 76.8%2014: 77.8%2016: 78.4%2018: 78.5%2020: 78.6%2022: 78.8%2024: 79%2025: 79.2%
Change over the period: +17.1 pp Annual average: 0.26 pp

Comparison, 2025

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: NATO

NATO 79.2%
World 57.8%
Urban population share — NATO, by year NATO All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 79.2 +0.1 pp
2024 79 +0.1 pp
2023 78.9 +0.1 pp
2022 78.8 +0.1 pp
2021 78.7 +0.1 pp
2020 78.6 +0.1 pp
2019 78.6 +0.1 pp
2018 78.5 +0.1 pp
2017 78.4 +0 pp
2016 78.4 +0.2 pp
2015 78.2 +0.4 pp
2014 77.8 +0.5 pp
2013 77.3 +0.5 pp
2012 76.8 +0.3 pp
2011 76.5 +0.2 pp
2010 76.2 +0.2 pp
2009 76 +0.2 pp
2008 75.8 +0.2 pp
2007 75.6 +0.2 pp
2006 75.4 +0.2 pp
2005 75.1 +0.2 pp
2004 74.9 +0.2 pp
2003 74.6 +0.2 pp
2002 74.4 +0.3 pp
2001 74.1 +0.3 pp
2000 73.8 +0.3 pp
1999 73.6 +0.3 pp
1998 73.3 +0.3 pp
1997 73 +0.3 pp
1996 72.7 +0.3 pp
1995 72.4 +0.3 pp
1994 72.1 +0.3 pp
1993 71.8 +0.3 pp
1992 71.5 +0.2 pp
1991 71.3 +0.2 pp
1990 71.1 +0.2 pp
1989 70.9 +0.2 pp
1988 70.7 +0.2 pp
1987 70.5 +0.2 pp
1986 70.3 +0.2 pp
1985 70.1 +0.2 pp
1984 69.9 +0.2 pp
1983 69.7 +0.2 pp
1982 69.5 +0.2 pp
1981 69.4 +0.2 pp
1980 69.2 +0.2 pp
1979 68.9 +0.2 pp
1978 68.7 +0.2 pp
1977 68.5 +0.2 pp
1976 68.3 +0.2 pp
1975 68.1 +0.2 pp
1974 67.9 +0.3 pp
1973 67.6 +0.3 pp
1972 67.4 +0.3 pp
1971 67.1 +0.3 pp
1970 66.8 +0.3 pp
1969 66.5 +0.4 pp
1968 66.1 +0.4 pp
1967 65.6 +0.5 pp
1966 65.2 +0.5 pp
1965 64.6 +0.6 pp
1964 64.1 +0.6 pp
1963 63.5 +0.5 pp
1962 63 +0.5 pp
1961 62.5 +0.5 pp
1960 62.1

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.