Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Egypt
Egypt: Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas was 67.0% in 2020. ▲ Rising
Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Egypt, 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 Egypt is 67.0%, measured in 2020. That is the highest value across all 15 years on record.
The figure is up 8.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Egypt peaked at 67.0% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 30.5%, in 1950.
That places Egypt 21st out of 236 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the top 10%.
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 Egypt, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 30.5% | — |
| 1955 | 32.8% | +7.7% |
| 1960 | 35.5% | +8.1% |
| 1965 | 39.2% | +10.6% |
| 1970 | 41.6% | +6.0% |
| 1975 | 44.3% | +6.7% |
| 1980 | 46.5% | +4.8% |
| 1985 | 47.7% | +2.6% |
| 1990 | 50.0% | +4.9% |
| 1995 | 53.2% | +6.3% |
| 2000 | 56.0% | +5.4% |
| 2005 | 59.1% | +5.4% |
| 2010 | 61.9% | +4.9% |
| 2015 | 64.9% | +4.8% |
| 2020 | 67.0% | +3.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 31.6% | 30.5% | 32.8% | 2 |
| 1960s | 37.3% | 35.5% | 39.2% | 2 |
| 1970s | 43.0% | 41.6% | 44.3% | 2 |
| 1980s | 47.1% | 46.5% | 47.7% | 2 |
| 1990s | 51.6% | 50.0% | 53.2% | 2 |
| 2000s | 57.5% | 56.0% | 59.1% | 2 |
| 2010s | 63.4% | 61.9% | 64.9% | 2 |
| 2020s | 67.0% | 67.0% | 67.0% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Egypt
More population data for Egypt
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.0535 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate 0.0962 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.0535 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.1102 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 160,340 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 1.43 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.4636 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth 0.0% (2100)
- Population density 202.82 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 11.08 million people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Egypt?
- Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Egypt was 67.0% 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 Egypt?
- The highest recorded value was 67.0% in 2020.
- What is the lowest share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas recorded in Egypt?
- The lowest recorded value was 30.5% in 1950.
- How does Egypt rank for share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas?
- Egypt ranks 21st out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas rising or falling in Egypt?
- Over the last ten years it is up 8.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Egypt 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.