Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Singapore
Singapore: Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas was 99.7% in 2020. ▲ Rising
Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Singapore, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2020, share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Singapore stood at 99.7%.
The figure is down 0.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Singapore peaked at 99.8% in 2010 and was at its lowest, 85.5%, in 1950.
That places Singapore 4th out of 236 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the top 10%.
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 Singapore, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 85.5% | — |
| 1955 | 87.6% | +2.4% |
| 1960 | 92.3% | +5.4% |
| 1965 | 94.7% | +2.5% |
| 1970 | 94.7% | +0.1% |
| 1975 | 97.4% | +2.9% |
| 1980 | 98.5% | +1.1% |
| 1985 | 98.6% | +0.2% |
| 1990 | 99.2% | +0.6% |
| 1995 | 99.7% | +0.4% |
| 2000 | 99.7% | -0.0% |
| 2005 | 99.7% | -0.0% |
| 2010 | 99.8% | +0.1% |
| 2015 | 99.8% | -0.0% |
| 2020 | 99.7% | -0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 86.5% | 85.5% | 87.6% | 2 |
| 1960s | 93.5% | 92.3% | 94.7% | 2 |
| 1970s | 96.1% | 94.7% | 97.4% | 2 |
| 1980s | 98.6% | 98.5% | 98.6% | 2 |
| 1990s | 99.5% | 99.2% | 99.7% | 2 |
| 2000s | 99.7% | 99.7% | 99.7% | 2 |
| 2010s | 99.8% | 99.8% | 99.8% | 2 |
| 2020s | 99.7% | 99.7% | 99.7% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Singapore
More population data for Singapore
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.9668 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -100 % change on previous year (2028)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.9668 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.0914 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 6,337 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.4648 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.5703 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth -0.9% (2100)
- Population density 5,798 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 140,350 people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Singapore?
- Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Singapore was 99.7% 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 Singapore?
- The highest recorded value was 99.8% in 2010.
- What is the lowest share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas recorded in Singapore?
- The lowest recorded value was 85.5% in 1950.
- How does Singapore rank for share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas?
- Singapore ranks 4th out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas rising or falling in Singapore?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Singapore 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.