Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Ecuador
Ecuador: Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas was 54.3% in 2020. ▲ Rising
Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Ecuador, 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 Ecuador stood at 54.3%. That is the highest value across all 15 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 7.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Ecuador peaked at 54.3% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 14.5%, in 1950.
That places Ecuador 43rd 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 Ecuador, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 14.5% | — |
| 1955 | 20.0% | +37.9% |
| 1960 | 22.0% | +10.4% |
| 1965 | 27.2% | +23.2% |
| 1970 | 31.9% | +17.5% |
| 1975 | 35.3% | +10.4% |
| 1980 | 37.2% | +5.4% |
| 1985 | 40.8% | +9.8% |
| 1990 | 43.7% | +7.0% |
| 1995 | 46.0% | +5.3% |
| 2000 | 47.9% | +4.1% |
| 2005 | 50.0% | +4.4% |
| 2010 | 50.6% | +1.3% |
| 2015 | 52.2% | +3.1% |
| 2020 | 54.3% | +3.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 17.2% | 14.5% | 20.0% | 2 |
| 1960s | 24.6% | 22.0% | 27.2% | 2 |
| 1970s | 33.6% | 31.9% | 35.3% | 2 |
| 1980s | 39.0% | 37.2% | 40.8% | 2 |
| 1990s | 44.8% | 43.7% | 46.0% | 2 |
| 2000s | 48.9% | 47.9% | 50.0% | 2 |
| 2010s | 51.4% | 50.6% | 52.2% | 2 |
| 2020s | 54.3% | 54.3% | 54.3% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Ecuador
More population data for Ecuador
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.4058 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.5775 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -4.47 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.5775 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -0.6% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 792,284 people (2100)
- Population density 76.87 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth -0.6% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.6473 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.9392 Percent per annum (2030)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Ecuador?
- Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Ecuador was 54.3% 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 Ecuador?
- The highest recorded value was 54.3% in 2020.
- What is the lowest share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas recorded in Ecuador?
- The lowest recorded value was 14.5% in 1950.
- How does Ecuador rank for share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas?
- Ecuador ranks 43rd out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas rising or falling in Ecuador?
- Over the last ten years it is up 7.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Ecuador 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.