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.
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
- 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)
- Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate 1.61 births per woman (2024)
- Refugees by country of asylum 257,079 people (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception 1.61 births per woman (2024)
- Total fertility rate vs. contraceptive prevalence 1.61 births per woman (2024)
- Natural population growth rate 0.5% (2023)
- Fertility rate: births per woman 1.62 live births per woman (2023)
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.