Share of urban population who live in the largest city in Brazil
Brazil: Share of urban population who live in the largest city was 11.4% in 2020. ▬ Flat
Share of urban population who live in the largest city in Brazil, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Brazil recorded 11.4% for share of urban population who live in the largest city in 2020.
That represents a change of down 5.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of urban population who live in the largest city in Brazil peaked at 15.0% in 1980 and was at its lowest, 10.8%, in 1950.
That places Brazil 157th out of 179 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the bottom quarter.
Share of urban population who live in the largest city in Brazil, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 10.8% | — |
| 1955 | 11.0% | +2.3% |
| 1960 | 11.6% | +5.5% |
| 1965 | 12.4% | +6.7% |
| 1970 | 13.6% | +9.6% |
| 1975 | 14.2% | +4.7% |
| 1980 | 15.0% | +5.4% |
| 1985 | 14.2% | -4.9% |
| 1990 | 13.7% | -3.5% |
| 1995 | 13.1% | -4.6% |
| 2000 | 12.5% | -4.6% |
| 2005 | 12.2% | -2.6% |
| 2010 | 12.0% | -1.7% |
| 2015 | 11.7% | -1.9% |
| 2020 | 11.4% | -3.1% |
Brazil compared with similar countries
- Brazil's 11.4% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 25.9%, 44% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Brazil's 11.4% is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 30.3%, 38% of the median. (27 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 10.9% | 10.8% | 11.0% | 2 |
| 1960s | 12.0% | 11.6% | 12.4% | 2 |
| 1970s | 13.9% | 13.6% | 14.2% | 2 |
| 1980s | 14.6% | 14.2% | 15.0% | 2 |
| 1990s | 13.4% | 13.1% | 13.7% | 2 |
| 2000s | 12.3% | 12.2% | 12.5% | 2 |
| 2010s | 11.9% | 11.7% | 12.0% | 2 |
| 2020s | 11.4% | 11.4% | 11.4% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Brazil
More population data for Brazil
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.5984 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.7328 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -0.2798 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.7328 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -0.7% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 6.45 million people (2100)
- Population density 19.55 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth -0.7% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.8366 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.4122 Percent per annum (2030)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of urban population who live in the largest city in Brazil?
- Share of urban population who live in the largest city in Brazil was 11.4% in 2020, according to European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of urban population who live in the largest city recorded in Brazil?
- The highest recorded value was 15.0% in 1980.
- What is the lowest share of urban population who live in the largest city recorded in Brazil?
- The lowest recorded value was 10.8% in 1950.
- How does Brazil rank for share of urban population who live in the largest city?
- Brazil ranks 157th out of 179 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of urban population who live in the largest city rising or falling in Brazil?
- Over the last ten years it is down 5.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Brazil data come from?
- The figures come from European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of urban population who live in the largest city. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Percentage of the urban population living in the country's largest city (by population). City boundaries are defined using a consistent global approach based on satellite imagery and population data.