Share of urban population who live in the largest city in Israel
Israel: Share of urban population who live in the largest city was 30.0% in 2020. ▲ Rising
Share of urban population who live in the largest city in Israel, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Israel recorded 30.0% for share of urban population who live in the largest city in 2020.
That represents a change of up 1.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of urban population who live in the largest city in Israel peaked at 30.0% in 1995 and was at its lowest, 20.2%, in 1955.
Israel ranks 70th of 179 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 15 years of available data.
Share of urban population who live in the largest city in Israel, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 21.7% | — |
| 1955 | 20.2% | -7.0% |
| 1960 | 21.4% | +6.0% |
| 1965 | 21.0% | -2.0% |
| 1970 | 21.4% | +1.8% |
| 1975 | 21.4% | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 24.7% | +15.7% |
| 1985 | 26.9% | +8.7% |
| 1990 | 26.3% | -2.1% |
| 1995 | 30.0% | +13.9% |
| 2000 | 29.9% | -0.2% |
| 2005 | 29.4% | -1.7% |
| 2010 | 29.5% | +0.2% |
| 2015 | 29.4% | -0.2% |
| 2020 | 30.0% | +1.8% |
Israel compared with similar countries
- Israel's 30.0% is above the median for high income countries, which is 29.2%, 1.0× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Israel's 30.0% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 22.7%, 1.3× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 21.0% | 20.2% | 21.7% | 2 |
| 1960s | 21.2% | 21.0% | 21.4% | 2 |
| 1970s | 21.4% | 21.4% | 21.4% | 2 |
| 1980s | 25.8% | 24.7% | 26.9% | 2 |
| 1990s | 28.2% | 26.3% | 30.0% | 2 |
| 2000s | 29.7% | 29.4% | 29.9% | 2 |
| 2010s | 29.5% | 29.4% | 29.5% | 2 |
| 2020s | 30.0% | 30.0% | 30.0% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Israel
More population data for Israel
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.3735 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.4941 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -7.23 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.4941 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development 0.5% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 1.14 million people (2100)
- Population density 912.52 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth 0.5% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate 0.0847 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 1.38 Percent per annum (2030)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of urban population who live in the largest city in Israel?
- Share of urban population who live in the largest city in Israel was 30.0% 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 Israel?
- The highest recorded value was 30.0% in 1995.
- What is the lowest share of urban population who live in the largest city recorded in Israel?
- The lowest recorded value was 20.2% in 1955.
- How does Israel rank for share of urban population who live in the largest city?
- Israel ranks 70th out of 179 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of urban population who live in the largest city rising or falling in Israel?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Israel 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.