Urban population share — all countries

Urban population share — United Kingdom

Urban population share in the United Kingdom in 2025 — 83.3%. Ranked 50 in the world out of 217. Since 1960, the indicator has risen by 4.8 pp.

2025 83.3% +0.1 pp vs 2024
World rank 50of 217
Period maximum 83.3%2025
Period minimum 76.9%1971

Trend over time

1960–2025 · % of population

Urban population share — United Kingdom, 1960–2025767880828419601967197419811988199520022009201620231960: 78.6%1962: 78.2%1964: 77.8%1966: 77.4%1968: 77.1%1970: 76.9%1972: 77%1974: 77.3%1976: 77.8%1978: 78.3%1980: 78.6%1982: 78.6%1984: 78.5%1986: 78.3%1988: 78.2%1990: 78.1%1992: 78.2%1994: 78.4%1996: 78.9%1998: 79.4%2000: 79.8%2002: 80.1%2004: 80.3%2006: 80.5%2008: 80.8%2010: 81%2012: 81.3%2014: 81.6%2016: 82%2018: 82.4%2020: 82.9%2022: 83.1%2024: 83.2%2025: 83.3%
Change over the period: +4.8 pp Annual average: 0.07 pp

Comparison, 2025

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

United Kingdom 83.3%
World 57.8%
Northern Europe computed 81.9%
High-income countries computed 80.3%
Urban population share — United Kingdom, by year United Kingdom All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 83.3 +0.1 pp
2024 83.2 +0.1 pp
2023 83.2 +0.1 pp
2022 83.1 +0.1 pp
2021 83 +0.1 pp
2020 82.9 +0.2 pp
2019 82.7 +0.2 pp
2018 82.4 +0.2 pp
2017 82.2 +0.2 pp
2016 82 +0.2 pp
2015 81.8 +0.2 pp
2014 81.6 +0.2 pp
2013 81.5 +0.2 pp
2012 81.3 +0.2 pp
2011 81.1 +0.1 pp
2010 81 +0.1 pp
2009 80.9 +0.1 pp
2008 80.8 +0.1 pp
2007 80.6 +0.1 pp
2006 80.5 +0.1 pp
2005 80.4 +0.1 pp
2004 80.3 +0.1 pp
2003 80.2 +0.1 pp
2002 80.1 +0.1 pp
2001 80 +0.2 pp
2000 79.8 +0.2 pp
1999 79.6 +0.2 pp
1998 79.4 +0.2 pp
1997 79.1 +0.2 pp
1996 78.9 +0.2 pp
1995 78.7 +0.2 pp
1994 78.4 +0.2 pp
1993 78.3 +0.1 pp
1992 78.2 +0.1 pp
1991 78.1 −0 pp
1990 78.1 −0 pp
1989 78.1 −0.1 pp
1988 78.2 −0.1 pp
1987 78.3 −0.1 pp
1986 78.3 −0.1 pp
1985 78.4 −0.1 pp
1984 78.5 −0.1 pp
1983 78.5 −0 pp
1982 78.6 −0 pp
1981 78.6 +0 pp
1980 78.6 +0.1 pp
1979 78.5 +0.2 pp
1978 78.3 +0.2 pp
1977 78.1 +0.3 pp
1976 77.8 +0.3 pp
1975 77.5 +0.2 pp
1974 77.3 +0.2 pp
1973 77.1 +0.1 pp
1972 77 +0.1 pp
1971 76.9 −0 pp
1970 76.9 −0.1 pp
1969 77 −0.1 pp
1968 77.1 −0.1 pp
1967 77.2 −0.2 pp
1966 77.4 −0.2 pp
1965 77.6 −0.2 pp
1964 77.8 −0.2 pp
1963 78 −0.2 pp
1962 78.2 −0.2 pp
1961 78.4 −0.2 pp
1960 78.6

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.