Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Timor-Leste
Timor-Leste: Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas was 25.0% in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Timor-Leste, 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 Timor-Leste stood at 25.0%. That is the highest value across all 15 years on record.
The figure is up 30.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Timor-Leste peaked at 25.0% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1950.
That places Timor-Leste 159th 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 Timor-Leste, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 0.0% | — |
| 1955 | 0.0% | — |
| 1960 | 0.0% | — |
| 1965 | 11.1% | — |
| 1970 | 11.8% | +6.4% |
| 1975 | 12.7% | +7.3% |
| 1980 | 13.6% | +7.1% |
| 1985 | 14.9% | +9.8% |
| 1990 | 15.5% | +3.6% |
| 1995 | 15.8% | +2.2% |
| 2000 | 16.0% | +1.1% |
| 2005 | 16.6% | +3.9% |
| 2010 | 19.2% | +15.6% |
| 2015 | 22.1% | +15.0% |
| 2020 | 25.0% | +13.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 2 |
| 1960s | 5.6% | 0.0% | 11.1% | 2 |
| 1970s | 12.3% | 11.8% | 12.7% | 2 |
| 1980s | 14.3% | 13.6% | 14.9% | 2 |
| 1990s | 15.6% | 15.5% | 15.8% | 2 |
| 2000s | 16.3% | 16.0% | 16.6% | 2 |
| 2010s | 20.6% | 19.2% | 22.1% | 2 |
| 2020s | 25.0% | 25.0% | 25.0% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Timor-Leste
- 156 Mali 25.8% compare
- 157 Norway 25.3% compare
- 158 Central African Republic 25.1% compare
- 160 Burkina Faso 25.0% compare
- 161 Ethiopia 24.6% compare
- 162 French Guiana 24.0% compare
More population data for Timor-Leste
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.2427 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -1.71 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.2427 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.5654 % change on previous year (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.3779 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth -0.2% (2100)
- Population density 132.68 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 97,537 people (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -0.2% (2100)
- Number of people living in urban and rural areas, annual growth rate 1.71 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Timor-Leste?
- Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Timor-Leste was 25.0% 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 Timor-Leste?
- The highest recorded value was 25.0% in 2020.
- What is the lowest share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas recorded in Timor-Leste?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1950.
- How does Timor-Leste rank for share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas?
- Timor-Leste ranks 159th out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas rising or falling in Timor-Leste?
- Over the last ten years it is up 30.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Timor-Leste 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.