Urban population share — all countries

Urban population share — Southern Asia

Urban population share in Southern Asia in 2025 — 37.9%. Since 1960, the indicator has risen by 20.6 pp.

2025 37.9% +0.3 pp vs 2024
World rank
Period maximum 37.9%2025
Period minimum 17.3%1960

Trend over time

1960–2025 · % of population

Urban population share — Southern Asia, 1960–20251020304019601967197419811988199520022009201620231960: 17.3%1962: 17.6%1964: 18%1966: 18.4%1968: 18.9%1970: 19.5%1972: 20.1%1974: 20.9%1976: 21.9%1978: 23%1980: 23.9%1982: 24.7%1984: 25.2%1986: 25.8%1988: 26.3%1990: 26.8%1992: 27.3%1994: 27.7%1996: 28.2%1998: 28.7%2000: 29.2%2002: 29.8%2004: 30.6%2006: 31.4%2008: 32.2%2010: 33%2012: 33.7%2014: 34.3%2016: 35%2018: 35.6%2020: 36.2%2022: 36.9%2024: 37.6%2025: 37.9%
Change over the period: +20.6 pp Annual average: 0.32 pp

Comparison, 2025

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

Southern Asia 37.9%
World 57.8%
Urban population share — Southern Asia, by year Southern Asia All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 37.9 +0.3 pp
2024 37.6 +0.3 pp
2023 37.2 +0.3 pp
2022 36.9 +0.3 pp
2021 36.6 +0.3 pp
2020 36.2 +0.3 pp
2019 35.9 +0.3 pp
2018 35.6 +0.3 pp
2017 35.3 +0.3 pp
2016 35 +0.3 pp
2015 34.7 +0.3 pp
2014 34.3 +0.3 pp
2013 34 +0.3 pp
2012 33.7 +0.3 pp
2011 33.4 +0.4 pp
2010 33 +0.4 pp
2009 32.6 +0.4 pp
2008 32.2 +0.4 pp
2007 31.8 +0.4 pp
2006 31.4 +0.4 pp
2005 31 +0.4 pp
2004 30.6 +0.4 pp
2003 30.2 +0.3 pp
2002 29.8 +0.3 pp
2001 29.5 +0.3 pp
2000 29.2 +0.3 pp
1999 28.9 +0.3 pp
1998 28.7 +0.3 pp
1997 28.4 +0.3 pp
1996 28.2 +0.2 pp
1995 27.9 +0.2 pp
1994 27.7 +0.2 pp
1993 27.5 +0.2 pp
1992 27.3 +0.3 pp
1991 27 +0.2 pp
1990 26.8 +0.2 pp
1989 26.5 +0.2 pp
1988 26.3 +0.2 pp
1987 26 +0.3 pp
1986 25.8 +0.3 pp
1985 25.5 +0.3 pp
1984 25.2 +0.3 pp
1983 25 +0.3 pp
1982 24.7 +0.3 pp
1981 24.3 +0.4 pp
1980 23.9 +0.4 pp
1979 23.5 +0.5 pp
1978 23 +0.5 pp
1977 22.5 +0.5 pp
1976 21.9 +0.5 pp
1975 21.4 +0.5 pp
1974 20.9 +0.4 pp
1973 20.5 +0.4 pp
1972 20.1 +0.3 pp
1971 19.8 +0.3 pp
1970 19.5 +0.3 pp
1969 19.2 +0.3 pp
1968 18.9 +0.3 pp
1967 18.7 +0.3 pp
1966 18.4 +0.2 pp
1965 18.2 +0.2 pp
1964 18 +0.2 pp
1963 17.8 +0.2 pp
1962 17.6 +0.2 pp
1961 17.5 +0.2 pp
1960 17.3

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.