Urban population share — all countries

Urban population share — South Asia

Urban population share in South Asia in 2025 — 35.8%. Since 1960, the indicator has risen by 19.5 pp.

2025 35.8% +0.3 pp vs 2024
World rank
Period maximum 35.8%2025
Period minimum 16.3%1960

Trend over time

1960–2025 · % of population

Urban population share — South Asia, 1960–202515202530354019601967197419811988199520022009201620231960: 16.3%1962: 16.5%1964: 16.9%1966: 17.2%1968: 17.6%1970: 18.1%1972: 18.7%1974: 19.5%1976: 20.4%1978: 21.5%1980: 22.3%1982: 22.9%1984: 23.4%1986: 23.9%1988: 24.3%1990: 24.7%1992: 25.2%1994: 25.6%1996: 26%1998: 26.5%2000: 27%2002: 27.7%2004: 28.4%2006: 29.2%2008: 30.1%2010: 31%2012: 31.7%2014: 32.3%2016: 33%2018: 33.6%2020: 34.2%2022: 34.8%2024: 35.5%2025: 35.8%
Change over the period: +19.5 pp Annual average: 0.3 pp

Comparison, 2025

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

South Asia 35.8%
World 57.8%
Urban population share — South Asia, by year South Asia All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 35.8 +0.3 pp
2024 35.5 +0.3 pp
2023 35.1 +0.3 pp
2022 34.8 +0.3 pp
2021 34.5 +0.3 pp
2020 34.2 +0.3 pp
2019 33.9 +0.3 pp
2018 33.6 +0.3 pp
2017 33.3 +0.3 pp
2016 33 +0.3 pp
2015 32.6 +0.3 pp
2014 32.3 +0.3 pp
2013 32 +0.3 pp
2012 31.7 +0.3 pp
2011 31.3 +0.4 pp
2010 31 +0.4 pp
2009 30.5 +0.4 pp
2008 30.1 +0.4 pp
2007 29.7 +0.4 pp
2006 29.2 +0.4 pp
2005 28.8 +0.4 pp
2004 28.4 +0.4 pp
2003 28 +0.4 pp
2002 27.7 +0.3 pp
2001 27.3 +0.3 pp
2000 27 +0.3 pp
1999 26.8 +0.3 pp
1998 26.5 +0.2 pp
1997 26.3 +0.2 pp
1996 26 +0.2 pp
1995 25.8 +0.2 pp
1994 25.6 +0.2 pp
1993 25.4 +0.2 pp
1992 25.2 +0.2 pp
1991 24.9 +0.2 pp
1990 24.7 +0.2 pp
1989 24.5 +0.2 pp
1988 24.3 +0.2 pp
1987 24.1 +0.2 pp
1986 23.9 +0.2 pp
1985 23.7 +0.2 pp
1984 23.4 +0.2 pp
1983 23.2 +0.3 pp
1982 22.9 +0.3 pp
1981 22.7 +0.3 pp
1980 22.3 +0.4 pp
1979 21.9 +0.5 pp
1978 21.5 +0.5 pp
1977 20.9 +0.5 pp
1976 20.4 +0.5 pp
1975 19.9 +0.5 pp
1974 19.5 +0.4 pp
1973 19.1 +0.4 pp
1972 18.7 +0.3 pp
1971 18.4 +0.3 pp
1970 18.1 +0.2 pp
1969 17.9 +0.2 pp
1968 17.6 +0.2 pp
1967 17.4 +0.2 pp
1966 17.2 +0.2 pp
1965 17 +0.2 pp
1964 16.9 +0.2 pp
1963 16.7 +0.1 pp
1962 16.5 +0.1 pp
1961 16.4 +0.1 pp
1960 16.3

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.