Global urban and rural population share 2026| ��ƽ��

Share of the world's population living in urban or rural areas from 1960 to 2026

Characteristic	Urban population	Rural population
2026	58.1%	41.9%
2025	57.8%	42.2%
2024	57.6%	42.4%
2023	57.3%	42.7%
2022	57.1%	42.9%
2021	56.8%	43.2%
2020	56.4%	43.6%
2019	56.1%	43.9%
2018	55.8%	44.2%
2017	55.3%	44.7%
2016	54.9%	45.1%
2015	54.4%	45.6%
2014	53.9%	46.1%
2013	53.4%	46.6%
2012	52.9%	47.1%
2011	52.5%	47.5%
2010	51.8%	48.2%
2009	51.4%	48.6%
2008	50.9%	49.1%
2007	50.4%	49.6%
2006	49.9%	50.1%
2005	49.4%	50.6%
2004	48.9%	51.1%
2003	48.4%	51.6%
2002	47.8%	52.2%
2001	47.3%	52.7%
2000	46.8%	53.2%
1999	46.3%	53.7%
1998	45.8%	54.2%
1997	45.3%	54.7%
1996	44.8%	55.2%
1995	44.3%	55.7%
1994	44%	56%
1993	43.7%	56.3%
1992	43.4%	56.6%
1991	43.2%	56.8%
1990	42.8%	57.2%
1989	42.7%	57.3%
1988	42.4%	57.6%
1987	42.1%	57.9%
1986	41.8%	58.2%
1985	41.4%	58.6%
1984	41.1%	58.9%
1983	40.6%	59.4%
1982	40.2%	59.8%
1981	39.9%	60.1%
1980	39.5%	60.5%
1979	39.1%	60.9%
1978	38.6%	61.4%
1977	38.3%	61.7%
1976	38%	62%
1975	37.7%	62.3%
1974	37.4%	62.6%
1973	37.2%	62.8%
1972	36.9%	63.1%
1971	36.7%	63.3%
1970	36.4%	63.6%
1969	36.3%	63.7%
1968	36%	64%
1967	35.8%	64.2%
1966	35.6%	64.4%
1965	35.4%	64.6%
1964	35.1%	64.9%
1963	34.6%	65.4%
1962	34.4%	65.6%
1961	34.5%	65.5%
1960	34.2%	65.8%

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Release date

2026

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Region

Worldwide

Survey time period

1960 to 2026

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2007 marked the first year when more of the world's population lived in an urban setting than a rural setting. In 1960, roughly a third of the world lived in an urban setting; it is expected that this figure will reach two thirds by 2050. Urbanization is a fairly new phenomenon; for the vast majority of human history, fewer than five percent of the world lived in urban areas, due to the dependency on subsistence agriculture. Advancements in agricultural practices and technology then coincided with the beginning of the industrial revolution in Europe in the late 19^th century, which resulted in waves of urbanization to meet the demands of emerging manufacturing industries. This trend was replicated across the rest of the world as it industrialized over the following two centuries, and the most significant increase coincided with the industrialization of the most populous countries in Asia. In more developed economies, urbanization remains high even as economies de-industrialize, due to a variety of factors such as housing availability, labor demands in service industries, and social trends.