Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Germany
Germany: Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas was 34.2% in 2020. ▲ Rising
Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Germany, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Germany recorded 34.2% for share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in 2020. That is the highest value across all 15 years on record.
The figure is up 6.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Germany peaked at 34.2% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 30.3%, in 1950.
Germany ranks 127th of 236 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
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 Germany, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 30.3% | — |
| 1955 | 30.8% | +1.7% |
| 1960 | 32.2% | +4.4% |
| 1965 | 32.7% | +1.5% |
| 1970 | 33.0% | +0.9% |
| 1975 | 32.6% | -1.2% |
| 1980 | 32.4% | -0.7% |
| 1985 | 31.6% | -2.3% |
| 1990 | 32.5% | +2.9% |
| 1995 | 32.9% | +1.3% |
| 2000 | 32.1% | -2.6% |
| 2005 | 32.1% | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 32.1% | -0.1% |
| 2015 | 32.5% | +1.5% |
| 2020 | 34.2% | +5.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 30.6% | 30.3% | 30.8% | 2 |
| 1960s | 32.4% | 32.2% | 32.7% | 2 |
| 1970s | 32.8% | 32.6% | 33.0% | 2 |
| 1980s | 32.0% | 31.6% | 32.4% | 2 |
| 1990s | 32.7% | 32.5% | 32.9% | 2 |
| 2000s | 32.1% | 32.1% | 32.1% | 2 |
| 2010s | 32.3% | 32.1% | 32.5% | 2 |
| 2020s | 34.2% | 34.2% | 34.2% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Germany
More population data for Germany
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.1409 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.0436 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -0.8968 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.0436 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -0.0% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 3.11 million people (2100)
- Population density 202.93 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth -0.0% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.3367 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population -0.1335 Percent per annum (2030)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Germany?
- Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Germany was 34.2% 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 Germany?
- The highest recorded value was 34.2% in 2020.
- What is the lowest share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas recorded in Germany?
- The lowest recorded value was 30.3% in 1950.
- How does Germany rank for share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas?
- Germany ranks 127th out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas rising or falling in Germany?
- Over the last ten years it is up 6.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Germany 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.