Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Mexico
Mexico: Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas was 53.6% in 2020. ▲ Rising
Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Mexico, 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 Mexico is 53.6%, measured in 2020.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Mexico peaked at 55.8% in 2015 and was at its lowest, 23.1%, in 1950.
Mexico ranks 47th 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 Mexico, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 23.1% | — |
| 1955 | 25.4% | +10.3% |
| 1960 | 28.5% | +12.1% |
| 1965 | 31.8% | +11.5% |
| 1970 | 35.3% | +11.0% |
| 1975 | 38.2% | +8.4% |
| 1980 | 43.2% | +13.0% |
| 1985 | 47.5% | +9.8% |
| 1990 | 51.6% | +8.8% |
| 1995 | 53.0% | +2.6% |
| 2000 | 54.4% | +2.7% |
| 2005 | 54.4% | -0.1% |
| 2010 | 55.1% | +1.3% |
| 2015 | 55.8% | +1.2% |
| 2020 | 53.6% | -3.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 24.3% | 23.1% | 25.4% | 2 |
| 1960s | 30.2% | 28.5% | 31.8% | 2 |
| 1970s | 36.7% | 35.3% | 38.2% | 2 |
| 1980s | 45.3% | 43.2% | 47.5% | 2 |
| 1990s | 52.3% | 51.6% | 53.0% | 2 |
| 2000s | 54.4% | 54.4% | 54.4% | 2 |
| 2010s | 55.4% | 55.1% | 55.8% | 2 |
| 2020s | 53.6% | 53.6% | 53.6% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Mexico
More population data for Mexico
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.7936 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.5786 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -4.1 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.5786 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -0.6% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 5.55 million people (2100)
- Population density 67 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth -0.6% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.7222 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.6019 Percent per annum (2030)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Mexico?
- Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Mexico was 53.6% 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 Mexico?
- The highest recorded value was 55.8% in 2015.
- What is the lowest share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas recorded in Mexico?
- The lowest recorded value was 23.1% in 1950.
- How does Mexico rank for share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas?
- Mexico ranks 47th out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas rising or falling in Mexico?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Mexico 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.