Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Colombia
Colombia: Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas was 62.3% in 2020. ▲ Rising
Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Colombia, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2020, share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Colombia stood at 62.3%. That is the highest value across all 15 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 5.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Colombia peaked at 62.3% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 24.0%, in 1950.
Colombia ranks 29th of 236 countries on this measure, 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 Colombia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 24.0% | — |
| 1955 | 28.3% | +18.1% |
| 1960 | 34.3% | +21.2% |
| 1965 | 40.3% | +17.6% |
| 1970 | 45.1% | +11.8% |
| 1975 | 49.1% | +8.9% |
| 1980 | 48.6% | -0.9% |
| 1985 | 49.3% | +1.3% |
| 1990 | 49.6% | +0.7% |
| 1995 | 51.4% | +3.6% |
| 2000 | 54.1% | +5.2% |
| 2005 | 56.8% | +5.0% |
| 2010 | 58.8% | +3.5% |
| 2015 | 61.1% | +3.8% |
| 2020 | 62.3% | +2.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 26.1% | 24.0% | 28.3% | 2 |
| 1960s | 37.3% | 34.3% | 40.3% | 2 |
| 1970s | 47.1% | 45.1% | 49.1% | 2 |
| 1980s | 49.0% | 48.6% | 49.3% | 2 |
| 1990s | 50.5% | 49.6% | 51.4% | 2 |
| 2000s | 55.5% | 54.1% | 56.8% | 2 |
| 2010s | 60.0% | 58.8% | 61.1% | 2 |
| 2020s | 62.3% | 62.3% | 62.3% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Colombia
More population data for Colombia
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.7218 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -5.66 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.7218 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.6442 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 56,988 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.5501 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.8769 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth -0.7% (2100)
- Population density 42.43 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 1.83 million people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Colombia?
- Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Colombia was 62.3% 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 Colombia?
- The highest recorded value was 62.3% in 2020.
- What is the lowest share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas recorded in Colombia?
- The lowest recorded value was 24.0% in 1950.
- How does Colombia rank for share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas?
- Colombia ranks 29th out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas rising or falling in Colombia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 5.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Colombia 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.