What it helps answer
Reading the signal
Helps assess settlement concentration, distribution economics and demand for urban infrastructure and services.
Indicator guide · SP.URB.TOTL.IN.ZS
Urban population
by country
Share of people living in urban areas. The table keeps each country's reported year visible so stale and current observations are not treated as equivalent.
Before comparing
Important limits
Countries define urban areas differently, so close cross-country differences may reflect classification rather than lived density. It does not show which cities are growing.
Measurement
% of population
World Bank indicator SP.URB.TOTL.IN.ZS. Values can be revised as national statistical agencies and international datasets update.
Source definition
Urban population (% of total population)
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.
Original source: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN), uri: https://population.un.org/wup/, note: United Nations Population Division's World Urbanization Prospects, National definitions, publisher: UN Population Division
60-market reference table
Latest reported values
Sorted by value, not by a common year. Check the year column before drawing a direct comparison.
| Position | Country | Region | Value | Year | Explore |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Singapore | Southeast Asia | 100.00% | 2025 | Compare |
| 2 | Kuwait | Middle East | 100.00% | 2025 | Compare |
| 3 | Qatar | Middle East | 99.36% | 2025 | Compare |
| 4 | Netherlands | Europe | 95.94% | 2025 | Compare |
| 5 | Uruguay | Latin America | 95.65% | 2025 | Compare |
| 6 | Argentina | Latin America | 92.35% | 2025 | Compare |
| 7 | Japan | East Asia | 92.30% | 2025 | Compare |
| 8 | Israel | Middle East | 91.58% | 2025 | Compare |
| 9 | Turkiye | Europe & Central Asia | 89.49% | 2025 | Compare |
| 10 | Chile | Latin America | 89.18% | 2025 | Compare |
| 11 | Sweden | Europe | 89.08% | 2025 | Compare |
| 12 | Denmark | Europe | 88.85% | 2025 | Compare |
| 13 | Brazil | Latin America | 88.18% | 2025 | Compare |
| 14 | Australia | Oceania | 87.72% | 2025 | Compare |
| 15 | Belgium | Europe | 87.67% | 2025 | Compare |
| 16 | United Arab Emirates | Middle East | 85.96% | 2025 | Compare |
| 17 | Switzerland | Europe | 85.73% | 2025 | Compare |
| 18 | Peru | Latin America | 85.60% | 2025 | Compare |
| 19 | Saudi Arabia | Middle East | 84.61% | 2025 | Compare |
| 20 | New Zealand | Oceania | 84.00% | 2025 | Compare |
| 21 | Norway | Europe | 83.57% | 2025 | Compare |
| 22 | United Kingdom | Europe | 83.32% | 2025 | Compare |
| 23 | Canada | North America | 82.88% | 2025 | Compare |
| 24 | Germany | Europe | 82.14% | 2025 | Compare |
| 25 | South Korea | East Asia | 81.17% | 2025 | Compare |
| 26 | Spain | Europe | 80.51% | 2025 | Compare |
| 27 | United States | North America | 80.19% | 2025 | Compare |
| 28 | Mexico | Latin America | 80.04% | 2025 | Compare |
| 29 | Costa Rica | Latin America | 79.73% | 2025 | Compare |
| 30 | Greece | Europe | 79.22% | 2025 | Compare |
| 31 | France | Europe | 78.84% | 2025 | Compare |
| 32 | Colombia | Latin America | 78.78% | 2025 | Compare |
| 33 | Malaysia | Southeast Asia | 77.39% | 2025 | Compare |
| 34 | Algeria | Middle East & North Africa | 75.82% | 2025 | Compare |
| 35 | Finland | Europe | 74.52% | 2025 | Compare |
| 36 | Czechia | Europe | 72.88% | 2025 | Compare |
| 37 | Hungary | Europe | 70.69% | 2025 | Compare |
| 38 | Austria | Europe | 69.72% | 2025 | Compare |
| 39 | Italy | Europe | 69.68% | 2025 | Compare |
| 40 | Ukraine | Europe | 69.60% | 2025 | Compare |
| 41 | China | East Asia | 66.34% | 2025 | Compare |
| 42 | Ireland | Europe | 64.59% | 2025 | Compare |
| 43 | South Africa | Sub-Saharan Africa | 63.82% | 2025 | Compare |
| 44 | Nigeria | Sub-Saharan Africa | 63.78% | 2025 | Compare |
| 45 | Ecuador | Latin America | 63.39% | 2025 | Compare |
| 46 | Morocco | Middle East & North Africa | 63.13% | 2025 | Compare |
| 47 | Thailand | Southeast Asia | 62.80% | 2025 | Compare |
| 48 | Portugal | Europe | 61.50% | 2025 | Compare |
| 49 | Poland | Europe | 60.09% | 2025 | Compare |
| 50 | Indonesia | Southeast Asia | 59.39% | 2025 | Compare |
| 51 | Ghana | Sub-Saharan Africa | 58.92% | 2025 | Compare |
| 52 | Philippines | Southeast Asia | 55.77% | 2025 | Compare |
| 53 | Romania | Europe | 52.17% | 2025 | Compare |
| 54 | Egypt | Middle East & North Africa | 42.90% | 2025 | Compare |
| 55 | Pakistan | South Asia | 39.53% | 2025 | Compare |
| 56 | Vietnam | Southeast Asia | 38.83% | 2025 | Compare |
| 57 | India | South Asia | 35.69% | 2025 | Compare |
| 58 | Bangladesh | South Asia | 33.24% | 2025 | Compare |
| 59 | Kenya | Sub-Saharan Africa | 32.21% | 2025 | Compare |
| 60 | Ethiopia | Sub-Saharan Africa | 24.11% | 2025 | Compare |
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators. Retrieved 2026-08-26. Open the source indicator.
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