Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Myanmar
Myanmar: Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas was 38.1% in 2020. ▲ Rising
Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Myanmar, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Myanmar recorded 38.1% for share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in 2020.
That represents a change of down 0.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Myanmar peaked at 38.5% in 2015 and was at its lowest, 14.6%, in 1950.
Myanmar ranks 111th 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 Myanmar, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 14.6% | — |
| 1955 | 16.9% | +15.9% |
| 1960 | 21.2% | +25.1% |
| 1965 | 26.2% | +23.8% |
| 1970 | 29.5% | +12.5% |
| 1975 | 33.2% | +12.7% |
| 1980 | 34.2% | +3.1% |
| 1985 | 34.0% | -0.5% |
| 1990 | 33.9% | -0.4% |
| 1995 | 35.4% | +4.5% |
| 2000 | 36.3% | +2.6% |
| 2005 | 37.3% | +2.9% |
| 2010 | 38.1% | +2.0% |
| 2015 | 38.5% | +0.9% |
| 2020 | 38.1% | -1.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 15.7% | 14.6% | 16.9% | 2 |
| 1960s | 23.7% | 21.2% | 26.2% | 2 |
| 1970s | 31.3% | 29.5% | 33.2% | 2 |
| 1980s | 34.1% | 34.0% | 34.2% | 2 |
| 1990s | 34.6% | 33.9% | 35.4% | 2 |
| 2000s | 36.8% | 36.3% | 37.3% | 2 |
| 2010s | 38.3% | 38.1% | 38.5% | 2 |
| 2020s | 38.1% | 38.1% | 38.1% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Myanmar
More population data for Myanmar
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.4448 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.5005 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -0.8844 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.5005 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -0.5% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 2.45 million people (2100)
- Population density 76.09 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth -0.5% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.737 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.5289 Percent per annum (2030)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Myanmar?
- Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Myanmar was 38.1% 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 Myanmar?
- The highest recorded value was 38.5% in 2015.
- What is the lowest share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas recorded in Myanmar?
- The lowest recorded value was 14.6% in 1950.
- How does Myanmar rank for share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas?
- Myanmar ranks 111th out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas rising or falling in Myanmar?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Myanmar 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.