Share of population living in urbanized areas in Australia
Australia: Share of population living in urbanized areas was 91.5% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
91.5%
Change on year
up 0.2%
World rank
22nd
of 202 countries
All-time high
91.5%
in 2025
All-time low
0.0%
in 1000
Years of data
108
1000–2025
Share of population living in urbanized areas in Australia, 1000–2025
Source: HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Australia recorded 91.5% for share of population living in urbanized areas in 2025. That is the highest value across all 108 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.2% on the previous year and up 1.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in urbanized areas in Australia peaked at 91.5% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1000.
Australia ranks 22nd of 202 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Share of population living in urbanized areas in Australia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1000 | 0.0% | — |
| 1100 | 0.0% | +200.0% |
| 1200 | 0.0% | +200.0% |
| 1300 | 0.0% | +200.0% |
| 1400 | 0.1% | +200.0% |
| 1500 | 0.2% | +200.0% |
| 1600 | 0.5% | +200.0% |
| 1700 | 1.6% | +200.0% |
| 1710 | 1.9% | +16.7% |
| 1720 | 2.2% | +16.7% |
| 1730 | 2.6% | +16.7% |
| 1740 | 3.0% | +16.7% |
| 1750 | 3.5% | +16.7% |
| 1760 | 4.1% | +16.7% |
| 1770 | 4.8% | +16.7% |
| 1780 | 5.6% | +16.7% |
| 1790 | 6.6% | +16.7% |
| 1800 | 7.7% | +16.7% |
| 1810 | 8.9% | +16.7% |
| 1820 | 10.4% | +16.7% |
| 1830 | 12.2% | +16.7% |
| 1840 | 14.2% | +16.7% |
| 1850 | 16.6% | +16.7% |
| 1860 | 19.3% | +16.7% |
| 1870 | 22.5% | +16.7% |
| 1880 | 26.3% | +16.7% |
| 1890 | 30.7% | +16.7% |
| 1900 | 35.8% | +16.7% |
| 1910 | 41.8% | +16.7% |
| 1920 | 48.7% | +16.7% |
| 1930 | 56.9% | +16.7% |
| 1940 | 66.3% | +16.7% |
| 1950 | 77.4% | +16.7% |
| 1951 | 77.5% | +0.1% |
| 1952 | 77.9% | +0.5% |
| 1953 | 78.3% | +0.6% |
| 1954 | 78.8% | +0.6% |
| 1955 | 79.3% | +0.6% |
| 1956 | 79.7% | +0.5% |
| 1957 | 80.0% | +0.5% |
| 1958 | 80.4% | +0.5% |
| 1959 | 80.9% | +0.6% |
| 1960 | 81.4% | +0.7% |
| 1961 | 82.1% | +0.8% |
| 1962 | 82.9% | +0.9% |
| 1963 | 83.6% | +0.9% |
| 1964 | 84.3% | +0.7% |
| 1965 | 84.7% | +0.5% |
| 1966 | 84.8% | +0.2% |
| 1967 | 84.8% | -0.0% |
| 1968 | 84.7% | -0.2% |
| 1969 | 84.5% | -0.1% |
| 1970 | 84.5% | -0.0% |
| 1971 | 84.8% | +0.3% |
| 1972 | 84.6% | -0.1% |
| 1973 | 84.5% | -0.2% |
| 1974 | 84.3% | -0.2% |
| 1975 | 84.3% | -0.1% |
| 1976 | 84.6% | +0.4% |
| 1977 | 84.8% | +0.3% |
| 1978 | 85.1% | +0.3% |
| 1979 | 85.4% | +0.3% |
| 1980 | 85.7% | +0.3% |
| 1981 | 85.6% | -0.1% |
| 1982 | 85.5% | -0.1% |
| 1983 | 85.4% | -0.1% |
| 1984 | 85.4% | -0.0% |
| 1985 | 85.4% | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 85.3% | -0.1% |
| 1987 | 85.4% | +0.1% |
| 1988 | 85.4% | +0.1% |
| 1989 | 85.4% | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 85.4% | -0.1% |
| 1991 | 85.5% | +0.1% |
| 1992 | 85.7% | +0.2% |
| 1993 | 85.8% | +0.2% |
| 1994 | 86.0% | +0.2% |
| 1995 | 86.1% | +0.2% |
| 1996 | 86.2% | +0.2% |
| 1997 | 86.4% | +0.2% |
| 1998 | 86.7% | +0.3% |
| 1999 | 86.9% | +0.3% |
| 2000 | 87.2% | +0.3% |
| 2001 | 87.4% | +0.2% |
| 2002 | 87.6% | +0.2% |
| 2003 | 87.8% | +0.2% |
| 2004 | 88.0% | +0.2% |
| 2005 | 88.2% | +0.2% |
| 2006 | 88.3% | +0.2% |
| 2007 | 88.5% | +0.2% |
| 2008 | 88.7% | +0.2% |
| 2009 | 88.9% | +0.2% |
| 2010 | 89.1% | +0.2% |
| 2011 | 89.3% | +0.2% |
| 2012 | 89.4% | +0.2% |
| 2013 | 89.6% | +0.2% |
| 2014 | 89.8% | +0.2% |
| 2015 | 89.9% | +0.2% |
| 2016 | 90.1% | +0.2% |
| 2017 | 90.3% | +0.2% |
| 2018 | 90.4% | +0.2% |
| 2019 | 90.6% | +0.2% |
| 2020 | 90.8% | +0.2% |
| 2021 | 90.9% | +0.2% |
| 2022 | 91.0% | +0.2% |
| 2023 | 91.2% | +0.2% |
| 2024 | 91.3% | +0.2% |
| 2025 | 91.5% | +0.2% |
Australia compared with similar countries
- Australia's 91.5% is above the median for high income countries, which is 78.9%, 1.2× the median. (68 countries reporting)
- Australia's 91.5% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 59.0%, 1.5× the median. (27 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Share of population living in urbanized areas in Australia changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1100 | +200.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 1200 | +200.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 1300 | +200.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 1400 | +200.0% | 0.0% | 0.1% |
| 1500 | +200.0% | 0.1% | 0.2% |
| 1600 | +200.0% | 0.2% | 0.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1 |
| 1100s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1 |
| 1200s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1 |
| 1300s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1 |
| 1400s | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.1% | 1 |
| 1500s | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.2% | 1 |
| 1600s | 0.5% | 0.5% | 0.5% | 1 |
| 1700s | 1.6% | 1.6% | 1.6% | 1 |
| 1710s | 1.9% | 1.9% | 1.9% | 1 |
| 1720s | 2.2% | 2.2% | 2.2% | 1 |
| 1730s | 2.6% | 2.6% | 2.6% | 1 |
| 1740s | 3.0% | 3.0% | 3.0% | 1 |
| 1750s | 3.5% | 3.5% | 3.5% | 1 |
| 1760s | 4.1% | 4.1% | 4.1% | 1 |
| 1770s | 4.8% | 4.8% | 4.8% | 1 |
| 1780s | 5.6% | 5.6% | 5.6% | 1 |
| 1790s | 6.6% | 6.6% | 6.6% | 1 |
| 1800s | 7.7% | 7.7% | 7.7% | 1 |
| 1810s | 8.9% | 8.9% | 8.9% | 1 |
| 1820s | 10.4% | 10.4% | 10.4% | 1 |
| 1830s | 12.2% | 12.2% | 12.2% | 1 |
| 1840s | 14.2% | 14.2% | 14.2% | 1 |
| 1850s | 16.6% | 16.6% | 16.6% | 1 |
| 1860s | 19.3% | 19.3% | 19.3% | 1 |
| 1870s | 22.5% | 22.5% | 22.5% | 1 |
| 1880s | 26.3% | 26.3% | 26.3% | 1 |
| 1890s | 30.7% | 30.7% | 30.7% | 1 |
| 1900s | 35.8% | 35.8% | 35.8% | 1 |
| 1910s | 41.8% | 41.8% | 41.8% | 1 |
| 1920s | 48.7% | 48.7% | 48.7% | 1 |
| 1930s | 56.9% | 56.9% | 56.9% | 1 |
| 1940s | 66.3% | 66.3% | 66.3% | 1 |
| 1950s | 79.0% | 77.4% | 80.9% | 10 |
| 1960s | 83.8% | 81.4% | 84.8% | 10 |
| 1970s | 84.7% | 84.3% | 85.4% | 10 |
| 1980s | 85.4% | 85.3% | 85.7% | 10 |
| 1990s | 86.1% | 85.4% | 86.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 88.1% | 87.2% | 88.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 89.8% | 89.1% | 90.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 91.1% | 90.8% | 91.5% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Australia
More population data for Australia
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.5057 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate 0.5755 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.5057 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.2553 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 32,193 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.8589 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate 0.2773 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth 0.5% (2100)
- Population density 5.61 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 2.09 million people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in urbanized areas in Australia?
- Share of population living in urbanized areas in Australia was 91.5% in 2025, according to HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living in urbanized areas recorded in Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 91.5% in 2025.
- What is the lowest share of population living in urbanized areas recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1000.
- How does Australia rank for share of population living in urbanized areas?
- Australia ranks 22nd out of 202 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of population living in urbanized areas rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Australia data come from?
- The figures come from HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living in urbanized areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of population living in urban areas in a country over time.