Share of urban population who live in the largest city in Switzerland
Switzerland: Share of urban population who live in the largest city was 10.1% in 2020. ▲ Rising
Share of urban population who live in the largest city in Switzerland, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Switzerland recorded 10.1% for share of urban population who live in the largest city in 2020.
The figure is down 1.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of urban population who live in the largest city in Switzerland peaked at 10.5% in 2005 and was at its lowest, 5.5%, in 1960.
That places Switzerland 162nd out of 179 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 15 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 5.8% | 5.7% | 5.9% | 2 |
| 1960s | 5.6% | 5.5% | 5.6% | 2 |
| 1970s | 5.8% | 5.8% | 5.9% | 2 |
| 1980s | 6.5% | 5.7% | 7.3% | 2 |
| 1990s | 10.2% | 10.1% | 10.3% | 2 |
| 2000s | 10.5% | 10.4% | 10.5% | 2 |
| 2010s | 10.3% | 10.2% | 10.3% | 2 |
| 2020s | 10.1% | 10.1% | 10.1% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Switzerland
More population data for Switzerland
- World population growth 0.0% (2100)
- Population density 230.99 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 392,499 people (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development 0.0% (2100)
- Total fertility rate vs. contraceptive prevalence 1.29 births per woman (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception 1.29 births per woman (2024)
- Refugees by country of asylum 196,167 people (2024)
- Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate 1.29 births per woman (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. Share of people who are religious 1.43 live births per woman (2023)
- Fertility rate accounting for survival until childbearing age 1.42 children per women (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of urban population who live in the largest city in Switzerland?
- Share of urban population who live in the largest city in Switzerland was 10.1% 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 Switzerland?
- The highest recorded value was 10.5% in 2005.
- What is the lowest share of urban population who live in the largest city recorded in Switzerland?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.5% in 1960.
- How does Switzerland rank for share of urban population who live in the largest city?
- Switzerland ranks 162nd out of 179 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of urban population who live in the largest city rising or falling in Switzerland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Switzerland 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.