Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Switzerland
Switzerland: Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas was 31.7% in 2020. ▲ Rising
Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Switzerland, 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 Switzerland stood at 31.7%. That is the highest value across all 15 years on record.
The figure is up 12.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Switzerland peaked at 31.7% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 16.2%, in 1950.
That places Switzerland 134th out of 236 countries with data for 2020, putting it 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 Switzerland, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 16.2% | — |
| 1955 | 17.4% | +7.9% |
| 1960 | 17.7% | +1.3% |
| 1965 | 18.4% | +3.9% |
| 1970 | 21.8% | +18.6% |
| 1975 | 22.8% | +4.8% |
| 1980 | 22.5% | -1.6% |
| 1985 | 23.5% | +4.5% |
| 1990 | 26.4% | +12.6% |
| 1995 | 26.9% | +1.8% |
| 2000 | 26.8% | -0.5% |
| 2005 | 28.4% | +6.0% |
| 2010 | 28.3% | -0.5% |
| 2015 | 29.5% | +4.5% |
| 2020 | 31.7% | +7.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 16.8% | 16.2% | 17.4% | 2 |
| 1960s | 18.0% | 17.7% | 18.4% | 2 |
| 1970s | 22.3% | 21.8% | 22.8% | 2 |
| 1980s | 23.0% | 22.5% | 23.5% | 2 |
| 1990s | 26.7% | 26.4% | 26.9% | 2 |
| 2000s | 27.6% | 26.8% | 28.4% | 2 |
| 2010s | 28.9% | 28.3% | 29.5% | 2 |
| 2020s | 31.7% | 31.7% | 31.7% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Switzerland
- 131 Sweden 32.0% compare
- 132 French Polynesia 31.9% compare
- 133 South Sudan 31.8% compare
- 135 Turkmenistan 31.4% compare
- 136 Guatemala 31.1% compare
- 137 Bulgaria 31.0% compare
More population data for Switzerland
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.0652 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -0.0595 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.0652 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.2093 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 9,754 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.4828 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.1371 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth 0.0% (2100)
- Population density 230.99 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 392,499 people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Switzerland?
- Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Switzerland was 31.7% 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 Switzerland?
- The highest recorded value was 31.7% in 2020.
- What is the lowest share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas recorded in Switzerland?
- The lowest recorded value was 16.2% in 1950.
- How does Switzerland rank for share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas?
- Switzerland ranks 134th out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas rising or falling in Switzerland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 12.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Switzerland 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.