Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Brazil
Brazil: Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas was 53.9% in 2020. ▲ Rising
Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Brazil, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Brazil is 53.9%, measured in 2020. That is the highest value across all 15 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 3.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Brazil peaked at 53.9% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 16.9%, in 1950.
That places Brazil 46th out of 236 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 15 years of available data.
Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Brazil, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 16.9% | — |
| 1955 | 19.3% | +14.7% |
| 1960 | 22.3% | +15.6% |
| 1965 | 25.1% | +12.4% |
| 1970 | 29.1% | +15.7% |
| 1975 | 32.1% | +10.6% |
| 1980 | 37.8% | +17.6% |
| 1985 | 40.9% | +8.2% |
| 1990 | 44.2% | +8.1% |
| 1995 | 47.0% | +6.4% |
| 2000 | 49.3% | +4.9% |
| 2005 | 50.4% | +2.3% |
| 2010 | 51.9% | +2.9% |
| 2015 | 53.2% | +2.4% |
| 2020 | 53.9% | +1.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 18.1% | 16.9% | 19.3% | 2 |
| 1960s | 23.7% | 22.3% | 25.1% | 2 |
| 1970s | 30.6% | 29.1% | 32.1% | 2 |
| 1980s | 39.3% | 37.8% | 40.9% | 2 |
| 1990s | 45.6% | 44.2% | 47.0% | 2 |
| 2000s | 49.9% | 49.3% | 50.4% | 2 |
| 2010s | 52.6% | 51.9% | 53.2% | 2 |
| 2020s | 53.9% | 53.9% | 53.9% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Brazil
More population data for Brazil
- Population regions 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 long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.7328 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.5984 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 230,886 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.4122 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.8366 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth -0.7% (2100)
- Population density 19.55 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 6.45 million people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Brazil?
- Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Brazil was 53.9% in 2020, according to European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas recorded in Brazil?
- The highest recorded value was 53.9% in 2020.
- What is the lowest share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas recorded in Brazil?
- The lowest recorded value was 16.9% in 1950.
- How does Brazil rank for share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas?
- Brazil ranks 46th out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas rising or falling in Brazil?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Brazil data come from?
- The figures come from European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Estimated share of the population living in cities. Cities are identified using satellite imagery and population data, applying the same definitions across countries.