Share of population living in cities in Vietnam
Vietnam: Share of population living in cities was 39.3% in 2020. ▲ Rising
Share of population living in cities in Vietnam, 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 Vietnam is 39.3%, measured in 2020. That is the highest value across all 15 years on record.
The figure is up 13.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in cities in Vietnam peaked at 39.3% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 11.5%, in 1950.
That places Vietnam 104th 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 in Vietnam, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 11.5% | — |
| 1955 | 12.2% | +6.3% |
| 1960 | 13.3% | +9.1% |
| 1965 | 15.1% | +13.8% |
| 1970 | 16.9% | +11.5% |
| 1975 | 19.9% | +17.9% |
| 1980 | 21.3% | +7.2% |
| 1985 | 23.0% | +7.8% |
| 1990 | 24.2% | +5.2% |
| 1995 | 26.8% | +11.1% |
| 2000 | 29.2% | +8.8% |
| 2005 | 31.0% | +6.2% |
| 2010 | 34.6% | +11.6% |
| 2015 | 37.5% | +8.4% |
| 2020 | 39.3% | +4.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 11.8% | 11.5% | 12.2% | 2 |
| 1960s | 14.2% | 13.3% | 15.1% | 2 |
| 1970s | 18.4% | 16.9% | 19.9% | 2 |
| 1980s | 22.1% | 21.3% | 23.0% | 2 |
| 1990s | 25.5% | 24.2% | 26.8% | 2 |
| 2000s | 30.1% | 29.2% | 31.0% | 2 |
| 2010s | 36.1% | 34.6% | 37.5% | 2 |
| 2020s | 39.3% | 39.3% | 39.3% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Vietnam
- 101 Cape Verde 39.5% compare
- 102 India 39.5% compare
- 103 Reunion 39.3% compare
- 105 Eritrea 39.2% compare
- 106 Western Sahara 39.0% compare
- 107 Sierra Leone 38.7% compare
More population data for Vietnam
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.5387 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -0.4983 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.5387 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.4775 % change on previous year (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.531 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth -0.5% (2100)
- Population density 292.59 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 3.95 million people (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -0.5% (2100)
- Total population (thousands), annual growth rate 0.6208 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in cities in Vietnam?
- Share of population living in cities in Vietnam was 39.3% 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 Vietnam?
- The highest recorded value was 39.3% in 2020.
- What is the lowest share of population living in cities recorded in Vietnam?
- The lowest recorded value was 11.5% in 1950.
- How does Vietnam rank for share of population living in cities?
- Vietnam ranks 104th out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in cities rising or falling in Vietnam?
- Over the last ten years it is up 13.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Vietnam 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.
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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.