Urban population share — all countries

Urban population share — Saudi Arabia

Urban population share in Saudi Arabia in 2025 — 84.6%. Ranked 47 in the world out of 217. Since 1960, the indicator has risen by 53.2 pp.

2025 84.6% +0.2 pp vs 2024
World rank 47of 217
Period maximum 84.6%2025
Period minimum 31.4%1960

Trend over time

1960–2025 · % of population

Urban population share — Saudi Arabia, 1960–20252040608010019601967197419811988199520022009201620231960: 31.4%1962: 34.1%1964: 37.2%1966: 40.9%1968: 45%1970: 49.2%1972: 53.2%1974: 56.8%1976: 60.1%1978: 63.3%1980: 66.4%1982: 69.3%1984: 71.8%1986: 73.9%1988: 75.6%1990: 77%1992: 78%1994: 78.6%1996: 79.2%1998: 79.6%2000: 80%2002: 80.3%2004: 80.8%2006: 81.2%2008: 81.6%2010: 82.1%2012: 82.4%2014: 82.8%2016: 83.1%2018: 83.5%2020: 83.8%2022: 84.1%2024: 84.5%2025: 84.6%
Change over the period: +53.2 pp Annual average: 0.82 pp

Comparison, 2025

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

Saudi Arabia 84.6%
World 57.8%
Western Asia computed 76.2%
High-income countries computed 80.3%
Urban population share — Saudi Arabia, by year Saudi Arabia All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 84.6 +0.2 pp
2024 84.5 +0.2 pp
2023 84.3 +0.2 pp
2022 84.1 +0.2 pp
2021 84 +0.2 pp
2020 83.8 +0.2 pp
2019 83.6 +0.2 pp
2018 83.5 +0.2 pp
2017 83.3 +0.2 pp
2016 83.1 +0.2 pp
2015 83 +0.2 pp
2014 82.8 +0.2 pp
2013 82.6 +0.2 pp
2012 82.4 +0.2 pp
2011 82.3 +0.2 pp
2010 82.1 +0.2 pp
2009 81.9 +0.2 pp
2008 81.6 +0.2 pp
2007 81.4 +0.2 pp
2006 81.2 +0.2 pp
2005 81 +0.2 pp
2004 80.8 +0.2 pp
2003 80.5 +0.2 pp
2002 80.3 +0.2 pp
2001 80.2 +0.2 pp
2000 80 +0.2 pp
1999 79.8 +0.2 pp
1998 79.6 +0.2 pp
1997 79.4 +0.2 pp
1996 79.2 +0.2 pp
1995 78.9 +0.3 pp
1994 78.6 +0.3 pp
1993 78.3 +0.3 pp
1992 78 +0.4 pp
1991 77.6 +0.6 pp
1990 77 +0.7 pp
1989 76.3 +0.8 pp
1988 75.6 +0.8 pp
1987 74.8 +0.9 pp
1986 73.9 +1 pp
1985 72.9 +1.1 pp
1984 71.8 +1.2 pp
1983 70.6 +1.3 pp
1982 69.3 +1.4 pp
1981 67.9 +1.5 pp
1980 66.4 +1.5 pp
1979 64.9 +1.6 pp
1978 63.3 +1.6 pp
1977 61.7 +1.6 pp
1976 60.1 +1.6 pp
1975 58.4 +1.6 pp
1974 56.8 +1.7 pp
1973 55.1 +1.9 pp
1972 53.2 +2 pp
1971 51.2 +2 pp
1970 49.2 +2.1 pp
1969 47.1 +2.1 pp
1968 45 +2.1 pp
1967 42.9 +2 pp
1966 40.9 +1.9 pp
1965 39 +1.8 pp
1964 37.2 +1.6 pp
1963 35.6 +1.5 pp
1962 34.1 +1.3 pp
1961 32.8 +1.3 pp
1960 31.4

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.