In 2025, the degree of urbanization worldwide was at 58 percent. North America, Latin America, and the Caribbean were the regions with the highest level of urbanization, with over four-fifths of the population residing in urban areas. The degree of urbanization defines the share of the population living in areas defined as "cities". On the other hand, less than half of Africa's population lives in urban settlements. Globally, China accounts for over one-quarter of the built-up areas of more than 500,000 inhabitants. The definition of a city differs across various world regions - some countries count settlements with 100 houses or more as urban, while others only include the capital of a country or provincial capitals in their count. Largest agglomerations worldwideThough North America is the most urbanized continent, no U.S. city was among the top ten urban agglomerations worldwide in 2023. Tokyo-Yokohama in Japan was the largest urban area in the world that year, with 37.7 million inhabitants. New York ranked 13th, with 21.4 million inhabitants. Eight of the 10 most populous cities are located in Asia. ConnectivityIt may be hard to imagine how the reality will look in 2050, with 70 percent of the global population living in cities, but some statistics illustrate the ways urban living differs from suburban and rural living. American urbanites may lead more “connected” (i.e., internet-connected) lives than their rural and/or suburban counterparts. As of 2021, around 89 percent of people living in urban areas owned a smartphone. Internet usage was also higher in cities than in rural areas. On the other hand, rural areas always have, and always will, attract those who want to escape the rush of the city.

This statistic shows the percentage of the total population living in urban areas worldwide from 1950 to 2050, by regional development level. By 2050, more developed regions of the world will have 86.6 percent of their populations living in urban areas.

In the year 1800, approximately five percent of the world's population lived in urban areas of 10,000 people or more. At this time, the world's population was just under one billion people, and the industrial revolution was in its early stages in Western Europe and North America. As industrialization spread across the world, urbanization rates rose accordingly. In 2021, the global urbanization rate was approximately 56 percent.

World urban population for 2023 was 4,614,425,176, a 1.67% increase from 2022.

<ul style='margin-top:20px;'>

<li>World urban population for 2022 was <strong>4,538,431,007</strong>, a <strong>1.65% increase</strong> from 2021.</li>
<li>World urban population for 2021 was <strong>4,464,635,019</strong>, a <strong>1.57% increase</strong> from 2020.</li>
<li>World urban population for 2020 was <strong>4,395,641,624</strong>, a <strong>1.82% increase</strong> from 2019.</li>
</ul>Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated using World Bank population estimates and urban ratios from the United Nations World Urbanization Prospects. Aggregation of urban and rural population may not add up to total population because of different country coverages.

United States US: Urban Population Growth data was reported at 0.952 % in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 0.968 % for 2016. United States US: Urban Population Growth data is updated yearly, averaging 1.152 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 2.449 % in 1960 and a record low of 0.927 % in 1974. United States US: Urban Population Growth data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.World Bank.WDI: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated using World Bank population estimates and urban ratios from the United Nations World Urbanization Prospects.; ; World Bank staff estimates based on the United Nations Population Division's World Urbanization Prospects: 2018 Revision.; Weighted average;

United States US: Urban Population data was reported at 267,278,643.000 Person in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 264,746,567.000 Person for 2016. United States US: Urban Population data is updated yearly, averaging 184,283,180.000 Person from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 267,278,643.000 Person in 2017 and a record low of 126,462,473.000 Person in 1960. United States US: Urban Population data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.World Bank.WDI: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated using World Bank population estimates and urban ratios from the United Nations World Urbanization Prospects. Aggregation of urban and rural population may not add up to total population because of different country coverages.; ; World Bank staff estimates based on the United Nations Population Division's World Urbanization Prospects: 2018 Revision.; Sum;

CN: Population: Usual Residence: Urbanization Rate: Fujian data was reported at 71.800 % in 2024. This records an increase from the previous number of 71.040 % for 2023. CN: Population: Usual Residence: Urbanization Rate: Fujian data is updated yearly, averaging 59.320 % from Dec 2000 (Median) to 2024, with 25 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 71.800 % in 2024 and a record low of 41.960 % in 2000. CN: Population: Usual Residence: Urbanization Rate: Fujian data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s Socio-Demographic – Table CN.GA: Population: Urbanization Rate.

This statistic shows the degree of urbanization in the Arab world (Arab League) countries in 2022. Urbanization is defined as the share of urban population in the total population. In 2022, 75.27 percent of the total population of Algeria lived in urban areas.

CN: Population: Usual Residence: Urbanization Rate: Jiangxi data was reported at 63.770 % in 2024. This records an increase from the previous number of 63.130 % for 2023. CN: Population: Usual Residence: Urbanization Rate: Jiangxi data is updated yearly, averaging 30.410 % from Dec 1978 (Median) to 2024, with 47 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 63.770 % in 2024 and a record low of 16.750 % in 1978. CN: Population: Usual Residence: Urbanization Rate: Jiangxi data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s Socio-Demographic – Table CN.GA: Population: Urbanization Rate.

CN: Population: Usual Residence: Urbanization Rate: Hunan data was reported at 62.070 % in 2024. This records an increase from the previous number of 61.160 % for 2023. CN: Population: Usual Residence: Urbanization Rate: Hunan data is updated yearly, averaging 17.115 % from Dec 1949 (Median) to 2024, with 76 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 62.070 % in 2024 and a record low of 7.780 % in 1953. CN: Population: Usual Residence: Urbanization Rate: Hunan data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s Socio-Demographic – Table CN.GA: Population: Urbanization Rate.

CN: Population: Household Registration: Urbanization Rate: Chongqing data was reported at 50.110 % in 2022. This records an increase from the previous number of 49.569 % for 2021. CN: Population: Household Registration: Urbanization Rate: Chongqing data is updated yearly, averaging 38.370 % from Dec 2000 (Median) to 2022, with 23 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 50.110 % in 2022 and a record low of 21.381 % in 2000. CN: Population: Household Registration: Urbanization Rate: Chongqing data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Chongqing Municipal Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s Socio-Demographic – Table CN.GE: Population: Prefecture Level City: Urbanization Rate. The agriculture and non-agriculture population of household registration from 2016 adopted the classification of urban and rural population.

CN: Population: Usual Residence: Urbanization Rate: Shandong data was reported at 66.480 % in 2024. This records an increase from the previous number of 65.530 % for 2023. CN: Population: Usual Residence: Urbanization Rate: Shandong data is updated yearly, averaging 13.160 % from Dec 1949 (Median) to 2024, with 76 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 66.480 % in 2024 and a record low of 5.630 % in 1950. CN: Population: Usual Residence: Urbanization Rate: Shandong data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s Socio-Demographic – Table CN.GA: Population: Urbanization Rate.

CN: Population: Household Registration: Urbanization Rate: Jiangxi: Jingdezhen data was reported at 49.420 % in 2022. This records an increase from the previous number of 49.400 % for 2021. CN: Population: Household Registration: Urbanization Rate: Jiangxi: Jingdezhen data is updated yearly, averaging 49.400 % from Dec 2019 (Median) to 2022, with 3 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 49.420 % in 2022 and a record low of 49.170 % in 2019. CN: Population: Household Registration: Urbanization Rate: Jiangxi: Jingdezhen data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Jingdezhen Municipal Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s Socio-Demographic – Table CN.GE: Population: Prefecture Level City: Urbanization Rate.

CN: Population: Usual Residence: Urbanization Rate: Guangxi data was reported at 57.390 % in 2024. This records an increase from the previous number of 56.780 % for 2023. CN: Population: Usual Residence: Urbanization Rate: Guangxi data is updated yearly, averaging 34.640 % from Dec 1950 (Median) to 2024, with 75 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 78.640 % in 2002 and a record low of 8.430 % in 1950. CN: Population: Usual Residence: Urbanization Rate: Guangxi data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s Socio-Demographic – Table CN.GA: Population: Urbanization Rate.

CN: Population: Usual Residence: Urbanization Rate: Jilin data was reported at 65.760 % in 2024. This records an increase from the previous number of 64.730 % for 2023. CN: Population: Usual Residence: Urbanization Rate: Jilin data is updated yearly, averaging 52.735 % from Dec 1949 (Median) to 2024, with 72 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 86.890 % in 2000 and a record low of 22.040 % in 1949. CN: Population: Usual Residence: Urbanization Rate: Jilin data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s Socio-Demographic – Table CN.GA: Population: Urbanization Rate.

Lesotho LS: Urban Population: % of Total Population data was reported at 27.730 % in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 27.317 % for 2016. Lesotho LS: Urban Population: % of Total Population data is updated yearly, averaging 13.163 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 27.730 % in 2017 and a record low of 3.512 % in 1960. Lesotho LS: Urban Population: % of Total Population data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Lesotho – Table LS.World Bank: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. The data are collected and smoothed by United Nations Population Division.; ; United Nations Population Division. World Urbanization Prospects: 2018 Revision.; Weighted average;

AE: Urban Population data was reported at 8,107,437.000 Person in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 7,968,622.000 Person for 2016. AE: Urban Population data is updated yearly, averaging 1,352,225.000 Person from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 8,107,437.000 Person in 2017 and a record low of 68,086.000 Person in 1960. AE: Urban Population data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United Arab Emirates – Table AE.World Bank.WDI: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated using World Bank population estimates and urban ratios from the United Nations World Urbanization Prospects. Aggregation of urban and rural population may not add up to total population because of different country coverages.; ; World Bank staff estimates based on the United Nations Population Division's World Urbanization Prospects: 2018 Revision.; Sum;

Population: Household Registration: Urbanization Rate: Heilongjiang: Harbin data was reported at 56.260 % in 2022. This records an increase from the previous number of 55.800 % for 2021. Population: Household Registration: Urbanization Rate: Heilongjiang: Harbin data is updated yearly, averaging 48.300 % from Dec 2000 (Median) to 2022, with 23 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 56.260 % in 2022 and a record low of 46.800 % in 2001. Population: Household Registration: Urbanization Rate: Heilongjiang: Harbin data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Harbin Municipal Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s Socio-Demographic – Table CN.GE: Population: Prefecture Level City: Urbanization Rate. Since 2015,the donotation of Non-agriculture Population has been adjusted to Urban Population.

United States US: Urban Population: % of Total Population data was reported at 82.058 % in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 81.862 % for 2016. United States US: Urban Population: % of Total Population data is updated yearly, averaging 75.016 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 82.058 % in 2017 and a record low of 69.996 % in 1960. United States US: Urban Population: % of Total Population data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.World Bank.WDI: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. The data are collected and smoothed by United Nations Population Division.; ; United Nations Population Division. World Urbanization Prospects: 2018 Revision.; Weighted average;

CN: Population: Usual Residence: Urbanization Rate: Liaoning data was reported at 73.510 % in 2023. This records an increase from the previous number of 73.000 % for 2022. CN: Population: Usual Residence: Urbanization Rate: Liaoning data is updated yearly, averaging 41.090 % from Dec 1949 (Median) to 2023, with 75 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 73.510 % in 2023 and a record low of 18.080 % in 1949. CN: Population: Usual Residence: Urbanization Rate: Liaoning data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s Socio-Demographic – Table CN.GA: Population: Urbanization Rate.