Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Réunion
Réunion: Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas was 39.3% in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Réunion, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Réunion recorded 39.3% for share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in 2020. That is the highest value across all 15 years on record.
That represents a change of up 1.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Réunion peaked at 39.3% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1950.
That places Réunion 103rd out of 236 countries with data for 2020, putting it 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 Réunion, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 0.0% | — |
| 1955 | 0.0% | — |
| 1960 | 16.8% | — |
| 1965 | 18.4% | +9.4% |
| 1970 | 18.5% | +0.5% |
| 1975 | 19.7% | +6.6% |
| 1980 | 18.0% | -8.9% |
| 1985 | 16.8% | -6.4% |
| 1990 | 17.8% | +5.9% |
| 1995 | 15.8% | -11.4% |
| 2000 | 25.2% | +59.7% |
| 2005 | 26.0% | +3.1% |
| 2010 | 38.9% | +49.7% |
| 2015 | 38.8% | -0.0% |
| 2020 | 39.3% | +1.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 2 |
| 1960s | 17.6% | 16.8% | 18.4% | 2 |
| 1970s | 19.1% | 18.5% | 19.7% | 2 |
| 1980s | 17.4% | 16.8% | 18.0% | 2 |
| 1990s | 16.8% | 15.8% | 17.8% | 2 |
| 2000s | 25.6% | 25.2% | 26.0% | 2 |
| 2010s | 38.9% | 38.8% | 38.9% | 2 |
| 2020s | 39.3% | 39.3% | 39.3% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Réunion
More population data for Réunion
- Population density 339.53 people per km² (2100)
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.3582 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth -0.4% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.4545 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -43.68 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -0.4% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 37,888 people (2100)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.3582 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.2793 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population aged 14 years or younger (thousands), annual growth rate -1.27 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Réunion?
- Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Réunion was 39.3% 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 Réunion?
- The highest recorded value was 39.3% in 2020.
- What is the lowest share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas recorded in Réunion?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1950.
- How does Réunion rank for share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas?
- Réunion ranks 103rd out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas rising or falling in Réunion?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Réunion 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.