Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Mongolia
Mongolia: Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas was 47.2% in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Mongolia, 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 Mongolia is 47.2%, measured in 2020. That is the highest value across all 15 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 24.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Mongolia peaked at 47.2% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 7.7%, in 1950.
Mongolia ranks 68th of 236 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Mongolia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 7.7% | — |
| 1955 | 9.9% | +28.7% |
| 1960 | 12.7% | +28.6% |
| 1965 | 14.8% | +16.4% |
| 1970 | 15.3% | +3.7% |
| 1975 | 15.9% | +3.3% |
| 1980 | 16.8% | +5.8% |
| 1985 | 18.4% | +9.6% |
| 1990 | 19.9% | +8.0% |
| 1995 | 21.8% | +9.8% |
| 2000 | 27.0% | +23.6% |
| 2005 | 31.9% | +18.2% |
| 2010 | 38.0% | +19.1% |
| 2015 | 41.9% | +10.4% |
| 2020 | 47.2% | +12.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 8.8% | 7.7% | 9.9% | 2 |
| 1960s | 13.7% | 12.7% | 14.8% | 2 |
| 1970s | 15.6% | 15.3% | 15.9% | 2 |
| 1980s | 17.6% | 16.8% | 18.4% | 2 |
| 1990s | 20.8% | 19.9% | 21.8% | 2 |
| 2000s | 29.4% | 27.0% | 31.9% | 2 |
| 2010s | 40.0% | 38.0% | 41.9% | 2 |
| 2020s | 47.2% | 47.2% | 47.2% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Mongolia
- 65 Russian Federation 47.6% compare
- 66 Sudan 47.6% compare
- 67 Costa Rica 47.5% compare
- 69 Togo 46.8% compare
- 70 Comoros 46.6% compare
- 71 Syrian Arab Republic 46.6% compare
More population data for Mongolia
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.016 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.1039 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate 0.7782 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.1039 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development 0.1% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 297,893 people (2100)
- Population density 3.54 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth 0.1% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.0708 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 1.02 Percent per annum (2030)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Mongolia?
- Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Mongolia was 47.2% 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 Mongolia?
- The highest recorded value was 47.2% in 2020.
- What is the lowest share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas recorded in Mongolia?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.7% in 1950.
- How does Mongolia rank for share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas?
- Mongolia ranks 68th out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas rising or falling in Mongolia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 24.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Mongolia 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 15 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
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.