Annual growth rate of urban population share in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Annual growth rate of urban population share was 0.1% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Annual growth rate of urban population share in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 1950–2025
Source: United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for annual growth rate of urban population share in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is 0.1%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of down 2.7% on the previous year and down 59.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual growth rate of urban population share in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland peaked at 0.3% in 1976 and was at its lowest, -0.3%, in 1957.
That places United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 161st out of 236 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Annual growth rate of urban population share in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 0.0% | — |
| 1951 | -0.0% | -451.2% |
| 1952 | -0.1% | +248.1% |
| 1953 | -0.2% | +79.3% |
| 1954 | -0.2% | +30.1% |
| 1955 | -0.3% | +17.4% |
| 1956 | -0.3% | +9.4% |
| 1957 | -0.3% | +3.5% |
| 1958 | -0.3% | -1.6% |
| 1959 | -0.3% | -6.8% |
| 1960 | -0.3% | -13.5% |
| 1961 | -0.2% | -9.8% |
| 1962 | -0.2% | +4.6% |
| 1963 | -0.3% | +6.7% |
| 1964 | -0.3% | +1.1% |
| 1965 | -0.2% | -2.9% |
| 1966 | -0.2% | -7.1% |
| 1967 | -0.2% | -12.2% |
| 1968 | -0.2% | -18.9% |
| 1969 | -0.1% | -29.8% |
| 1970 | -0.1% | -53.1% |
| 1971 | 0.0% | -156.4% |
| 1972 | 0.1% | +323.8% |
| 1973 | 0.2% | +76.1% |
| 1974 | 0.3% | +25.7% |
| 1975 | 0.3% | +11.6% |
| 1976 | 0.3% | +2.1% |
| 1977 | 0.3% | -6.1% |
| 1978 | 0.3% | -14.9% |
| 1979 | 0.2% | -27.7% |
| 1980 | 0.1% | -53.2% |
| 1981 | -0.0% | -106.7% |
| 1982 | -0.0% | +547.5% |
| 1983 | -0.1% | +73.6% |
| 1984 | -0.1% | +25.0% |
| 1985 | -0.1% | +11.7% |
| 1986 | -0.1% | +2.4% |
| 1987 | -0.1% | -5.6% |
| 1988 | -0.1% | -14.3% |
| 1989 | -0.1% | -26.7% |
| 1990 | -0.0% | -51.8% |
| 1991 | 0.0% | -198.9% |
| 1992 | 0.1% | +295.9% |
| 1993 | 0.2% | +79.9% |
| 1994 | 0.2% | +29.5% |
| 1995 | 0.3% | +16.3% |
| 1996 | 0.3% | +7.9% |
| 1997 | 0.3% | +1.6% |
| 1998 | 0.3% | -3.8% |
| 1999 | 0.3% | -9.7% |
| 2000 | 0.2% | -17.1% |
| 2001 | 0.2% | -21.4% |
| 2002 | 0.2% | -13.1% |
| 2003 | 0.1% | -8.7% |
| 2004 | 0.1% | -6.8% |
| 2005 | 0.1% | -4.1% |
| 2006 | 0.1% | -0.8% |
| 2007 | 0.1% | +2.6% |
| 2008 | 0.1% | +5.9% |
| 2009 | 0.1% | +8.8% |
| 2010 | 0.2% | +10.7% |
| 2011 | 0.2% | +11.5% |
| 2012 | 0.2% | +8.0% |
| 2013 | 0.2% | +7.3% |
| 2014 | 0.2% | +6.1% |
| 2015 | 0.2% | +5.3% |
| 2016 | 0.2% | +4.6% |
| 2017 | 0.3% | +4.0% |
| 2018 | 0.3% | +3.4% |
| 2019 | 0.3% | +8.9% |
| 2020 | 0.2% | -36.8% |
| 2021 | 0.1% | -45.6% |
| 2022 | 0.1% | +3.4% |
| 2023 | 0.1% | -2.4% |
| 2024 | 0.1% | -2.6% |
| 2025 | 0.1% | -2.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | -0.2% | -0.3% | 0.0% | 10 |
| 1960s | -0.2% | -0.3% | -0.1% | 10 |
| 1970s | 0.2% | -0.1% | 0.3% | 10 |
| 1980s | -0.1% | -0.1% | 0.1% | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.2% | -0.0% | 0.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.2% | 6 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
More population data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.1791 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate 0.1389 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.1791 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.0706 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 71,685 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.2666 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.169 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth -0.2% (2100)
- Population density 307.14 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 3.21 million people (2100)
All data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland →
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual growth rate of urban population share in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- Annual growth rate of urban population share in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was 0.1% in 2025, according to United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest annual growth rate of urban population share recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 0.3% in 1976.
- What is the lowest annual growth rate of urban population share recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was -0.3% in 1957.
- How does United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank for annual growth rate of urban population share?
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 161st out of 236 countries with data for 2025.
- Is annual growth rate of urban population share rising or falling in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 59.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Annual growth rate of urban population share. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Average annual rate of change of the share of the population living in urban areas.