Share of urban population who live in the largest city in North Macedonia
North Macedonia: Share of urban population who live in the largest city was 27.1% in 2020. ▲ Rising
Share of urban population who live in the largest city in North Macedonia, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2020, share of urban population who live in the largest city in North Macedonia stood at 27.1%.
That represents a change of up 2.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of urban population who live in the largest city in North Macedonia peaked at 29.9% in 1980 and was at its lowest, 21.9%, in 1950.
That places North Macedonia 85th out of 179 countries with data for 2020, putting it 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 North Macedonia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 21.9% | — |
| 1955 | 23.2% | +5.8% |
| 1960 | 24.8% | +7.0% |
| 1965 | 26.3% | +5.8% |
| 1970 | 28.0% | +6.6% |
| 1975 | 29.2% | +4.1% |
| 1980 | 29.9% | +2.5% |
| 1985 | 29.1% | -2.9% |
| 1990 | 28.4% | -2.2% |
| 1995 | 28.2% | -0.8% |
| 2000 | 27.0% | -4.4% |
| 2005 | 26.5% | -1.5% |
| 2010 | 26.6% | +0.1% |
| 2015 | 26.8% | +0.9% |
| 2020 | 27.1% | +1.2% |
North Macedonia compared with similar countries
- North Macedonia's 27.1% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 25.9%, 1.0× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- North Macedonia's 27.1% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 24.1%, 1.1× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 22.6% | 21.9% | 23.2% | 2 |
| 1960s | 25.6% | 24.8% | 26.3% | 2 |
| 1970s | 28.6% | 28.0% | 29.2% | 2 |
| 1980s | 29.5% | 29.1% | 29.9% | 2 |
| 1990s | 28.3% | 28.2% | 28.4% | 2 |
| 2000s | 26.8% | 26.5% | 27.0% | 2 |
| 2010s | 26.7% | 26.6% | 26.8% | 2 |
| 2020s | 27.1% | 27.1% | 27.1% | 1 |
Countries ranked near North Macedonia
- 82 New Zealand 28.1% compare
- 83 Somalia 27.9% compare
- 84 Burkina Faso 27.7% compare
- 86 Hungary 26.7% compare
- 87 Sri Lanka 26.0% compare
- 88 Puerto Rico 25.9% compare
More population data for North Macedonia
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.9708 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -1.24 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -3.21 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -1.24 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -1.2% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 28,904 people (2100)
- Population density 34.22 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth -1.2% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -1.01 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population -0.1557 Percent per annum (2030)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of urban population who live in the largest city in North Macedonia?
- Share of urban population who live in the largest city in North Macedonia was 27.1% 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 North Macedonia?
- The highest recorded value was 29.9% in 1980.
- What is the lowest share of urban population who live in the largest city recorded in North Macedonia?
- The lowest recorded value was 21.9% in 1950.
- How does North Macedonia rank for share of urban population who live in the largest city?
- North Macedonia ranks 85th out of 179 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of urban population who live in the largest city rising or falling in North Macedonia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this North Macedonia 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.