Share of population living in urbanized areas in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Share of population living in urbanized areas was 86.1% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Share of population living in urbanized areas in Saudi Arabia, 1000–2025
Source: HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Saudi Arabia recorded 86.1% for share of population living in urbanized areas in 2025. That is the highest value across all 108 years on record.
That represents a change of up 0.3% on the previous year and up 2.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in urbanized areas in Saudi Arabia peaked at 86.1% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1000.
That places Saudi Arabia 41st out of 202 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
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 | 0.7% | 0.7% | 0.7% | 1 |
| 1700s | 2.2% | 2.2% | 2.2% | 1 |
| 1710s | 2.5% | 2.5% | 2.5% | 1 |
| 1720s | 2.7% | 2.7% | 2.7% | 1 |
| 1730s | 3.0% | 3.0% | 3.0% | 1 |
| 1740s | 3.2% | 3.2% | 3.2% | 1 |
| 1750s | 3.5% | 3.5% | 3.5% | 1 |
| 1760s | 3.9% | 3.9% | 3.9% | 1 |
| 1770s | 4.2% | 4.2% | 4.2% | 1 |
| 1780s | 4.7% | 4.7% | 4.7% | 1 |
| 1790s | 5.1% | 5.1% | 5.1% | 1 |
| 1800s | 5.6% | 5.6% | 5.6% | 1 |
| 1810s | 6.1% | 6.1% | 6.1% | 1 |
| 1820s | 6.7% | 6.7% | 6.7% | 1 |
| 1830s | 7.3% | 7.3% | 7.3% | 1 |
| 1840s | 8.0% | 8.0% | 8.0% | 1 |
| 1850s | 8.8% | 8.8% | 8.8% | 1 |
| 1860s | 9.6% | 9.6% | 9.6% | 1 |
| 1870s | 10.6% | 10.6% | 10.6% | 1 |
| 1880s | 11.6% | 11.6% | 11.6% | 1 |
| 1890s | 12.7% | 12.7% | 12.7% | 1 |
| 1900s | 13.9% | 13.9% | 13.9% | 1 |
| 1910s | 15.2% | 15.2% | 15.2% | 1 |
| 1920s | 16.6% | 16.6% | 16.6% | 1 |
| 1930s | 18.2% | 18.2% | 18.2% | 1 |
| 1940s | 19.9% | 19.9% | 19.9% | 1 |
| 1950s | 25.9% | 21.8% | 30.1% | 10 |
| 1960s | 37.9% | 31.2% | 46.0% | 10 |
| 1970s | 55.7% | 47.9% | 62.6% | 10 |
| 1980s | 70.3% | 64.5% | 76.5% | 10 |
| 1990s | 78.7% | 77.2% | 81.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 82.9% | 82.9% | 82.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 83.8% | 82.9% | 84.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 85.5% | 84.9% | 86.1% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
- 38 Netherlands 86.7% compare
- 39 Falkland Islands 86.3% compare
- 40 United States 86.3% compare
- 42 Canada 85.2% compare
- 43 Western Sahara 84.9% compare
- 44 Norway 84.5% compare
More population data for Saudi Arabia
- World population growth 0.6% (2100)
- Population density 33.03 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 4.10 million people (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development 0.6% (2100)
- Total fertility rate vs. contraceptive prevalence 2.31 births per woman (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception 2.31 births per woman (2024)
- Refugees by country of asylum 448 people (2024)
- Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate 2.31 births per woman (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. Share of people who are religious 2.28 live births per woman (2023)
- Fertility rate accounting for survival until childbearing age 2.25 children per women (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in urbanized areas in Saudi Arabia?
- Share of population living in urbanized areas in Saudi Arabia was 86.1% 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 Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 86.1% in 2025.
- What is the lowest share of population living in urbanized areas recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1000.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for share of population living in urbanized areas?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 41st out of 202 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of population living in urbanized areas rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia 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.