Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Uruguay
Uruguay: Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas was 52.7% in 2020. ▲ Rising
Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Uruguay, 1950–2020
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 Uruguay is 52.7%, measured in 2020.
That represents a change of down 1.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Uruguay peaked at 54.2% in 1980 and was at its lowest, 46.3%, in 1955.
Uruguay ranks 50th of 236 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
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 Uruguay, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 46.5% | — |
| 1955 | 46.3% | -0.5% |
| 1960 | 49.7% | +7.4% |
| 1965 | 49.6% | -0.3% |
| 1970 | 52.1% | +5.0% |
| 1975 | 53.2% | +2.2% |
| 1980 | 54.2% | +1.9% |
| 1985 | 53.6% | -1.1% |
| 1990 | 53.2% | -0.8% |
| 1995 | 52.2% | -1.9% |
| 2000 | 54.1% | +3.6% |
| 2005 | 53.6% | -0.8% |
| 2010 | 53.6% | -0.1% |
| 2015 | 53.5% | -0.1% |
| 2020 | 52.7% | -1.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 46.4% | 46.3% | 46.5% | 2 |
| 1960s | 49.6% | 49.6% | 49.7% | 2 |
| 1970s | 52.6% | 52.1% | 53.2% | 2 |
| 1980s | 53.9% | 53.6% | 54.2% | 2 |
| 1990s | 52.7% | 52.2% | 53.2% | 2 |
| 2000s | 53.8% | 53.6% | 54.1% | 2 |
| 2010s | 53.5% | 53.5% | 53.6% | 2 |
| 2020s | 52.7% | 52.7% | 52.7% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Uruguay
More population data for Uruguay
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.891 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -1.01 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -4.49 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -1.01 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -1.0% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 78,530 people (2100)
- Population density 12.83 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth -1.0% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.7231 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population -0.0062 Percent per annum (2030)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Uruguay?
- Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Uruguay was 52.7% 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 Uruguay?
- The highest recorded value was 54.2% in 1980.
- What is the lowest share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas recorded in Uruguay?
- The lowest recorded value was 46.3% in 1955.
- How does Uruguay rank for share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas?
- Uruguay ranks 50th out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas rising or falling in Uruguay?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Uruguay 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.