Share of population living in cities in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Share of population living in cities was 57.4% in 2020. ▬ Flat
Share of population living in cities in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 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 in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is 57.4%, measured in 2020. That is the highest value across all 15 years on record.
The figure is up 3.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in cities in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland peaked at 57.4% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 52.5%, in 1985.
That places United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 38th out of 236 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the top quarter.
Share of population living in cities in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 55.7% | — |
| 1955 | 55.5% | -0.4% |
| 1960 | 55.9% | +0.6% |
| 1965 | 55.5% | -0.6% |
| 1970 | 54.2% | -2.4% |
| 1975 | 53.0% | -2.2% |
| 1980 | 52.5% | -0.9% |
| 1985 | 52.5% | -0.0% |
| 1990 | 52.8% | +0.6% |
| 1995 | 53.0% | +0.5% |
| 2000 | 53.5% | +0.9% |
| 2005 | 54.3% | +1.4% |
| 2010 | 55.4% | +2.1% |
| 2015 | 56.4% | +1.9% |
| 2020 | 57.4% | +1.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 55.6% | 55.5% | 55.7% | 2 |
| 1960s | 55.7% | 55.5% | 55.9% | 2 |
| 1970s | 53.6% | 53.0% | 54.2% | 2 |
| 1980s | 52.5% | 52.5% | 52.5% | 2 |
| 1990s | 52.9% | 52.8% | 53.0% | 2 |
| 2000s | 53.9% | 53.5% | 54.3% | 2 |
| 2010s | 55.9% | 55.4% | 56.4% | 2 |
| 2020s | 57.4% | 57.4% | 57.4% | 1 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
More population data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.1791 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate 0.1389 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.1791 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.0706 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 71,685 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.2666 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.169 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth -0.2% (2100)
- Population density 307.14 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 3.21 million people (2100)
All data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland →
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in cities in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- Share of population living in cities in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was 57.4% 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 recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 57.4% in 2020.
- What is the lowest share of population living in cities recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 52.5% in 1985.
- How does United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank for share of population living in cities?
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 38th out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in cities rising or falling in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 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. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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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.