Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Suriname

Suriname: Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas was 40.2% in 2020. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2020)
40.2%
World rank
96th
of 236 countries
All-time high
41.9%
in 2000
All-time low
0.0%
in 1950
Years of data
15
1950–2020

Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Suriname, 1950–2020

0102030401950198520201950: 0 %1955: 0 %1960: 0 %1965: 19 %1970: 21.7 %1975: 23.1 %1980: 36.4 %1985: 39.4 %1990: 40.5 %1995: 41.8 %2000: 41.9 %2005: 40.4 %2010: 40.9 %2015: 39.1 %2020: 40.2 %

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 Suriname is 40.2%, measured in 2020.

That represents a change of down 1.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Suriname peaked at 41.9% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1950.

Suriname ranks 96th 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 Suriname, year by year

Annual values for Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Suriname, 1950 to 2020.
Year % Change
1950 0.0%
1955 0.0%
1960 0.0%
1965 19.0%
1970 21.7% +14.3%
1975 23.1% +6.2%
1980 36.4% +57.9%
1985 39.4% +8.2%
1990 40.5% +2.7%
1995 41.8% +3.2%
2000 41.9% +0.5%
2005 40.4% -3.6%
2010 40.9% +1.2%
2015 39.1% -4.4%
2020 40.2% +2.7%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1950s 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 2
1960s 9.5% 0.0% 19.0% 2
1970s 22.4% 21.7% 23.1% 2
1980s 37.9% 36.4% 39.4% 2
1990s 41.1% 40.5% 41.8% 2
2000s 41.2% 40.4% 41.9% 2
2010s 40.0% 39.1% 40.9% 2
2020s 40.2% 40.2% 40.2% 1

Countries ranked near Suriname

  1. 93 Armenia 41.7% compare
  2. 94 Uzbekistan 41.6% compare
  3. 95 Philippines 41.5% compare
  4. 97 Azerbaijan 39.9% compare
  5. 98 Benin 39.9% compare
  6. 99 Afghanistan 39.7% compare

See the full ranking of 236 places →

More population data for Suriname

All data for Suriname →

Frequently asked questions

What is share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Suriname?
Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Suriname was 40.2% 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 Suriname?
The highest recorded value was 41.9% in 2000.
What is the lowest share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas recorded in Suriname?
The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1950.
How does Suriname rank for share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas?
Suriname ranks 96th out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
Is share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas rising or falling in Suriname?
Over the last ten years it is down 1.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Suriname 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).

Share, cite or embed this page

Cite this page

Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Suriname. Statizoid, drawing on European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Retrieved 08 September 2026, from https://population.statizoid.com/stat/share-of-population-living-in-cities-towns-and-villages/suriname/

Embed or link this data

Paste this into a page to link back to these figures. The data itself is free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data); please keep the attribution.

<a href="https://population.statizoid.com/stat/share-of-population-living-in-cities-towns-and-villages/suriname/">Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Suriname</a> — Statizoid

About this data

Indicator
Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas
Unit
%
Source
European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
236 places, 3,540 data points, 1950–2020
Last refreshed

Estimated share of the population living in cities. Cities are identified using satellite imagery and population data, applying the same definitions across countries.