Share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 in Australia
Australia: Share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 was 87.7% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 in Australia, 1000–2025
Source: HYDE (2023); United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 in Australia is 87.7%, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 108 years on record.
The figure is up 0.1% on the previous year and up 1.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 in Australia peaked at 87.7% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1000.
Australia ranks 49th of 238 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1 |
| 1100s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1 |
| 1200s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1 |
| 1300s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1 |
| 1400s | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.1% | 1 |
| 1500s | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.2% | 1 |
| 1600s | 0.5% | 0.5% | 0.5% | 1 |
| 1700s | 1.6% | 1.6% | 1.6% | 1 |
| 1710s | 1.9% | 1.9% | 1.9% | 1 |
| 1720s | 2.2% | 2.2% | 2.2% | 1 |
| 1730s | 2.6% | 2.6% | 2.6% | 1 |
| 1740s | 3.0% | 3.0% | 3.0% | 1 |
| 1750s | 3.5% | 3.5% | 3.5% | 1 |
| 1760s | 4.1% | 4.1% | 4.1% | 1 |
| 1770s | 4.8% | 4.8% | 4.8% | 1 |
| 1780s | 5.6% | 5.6% | 5.6% | 1 |
| 1790s | 6.6% | 6.6% | 6.6% | 1 |
| 1800s | 7.7% | 7.7% | 7.7% | 1 |
| 1810s | 8.9% | 8.9% | 8.9% | 1 |
| 1820s | 10.4% | 10.4% | 10.4% | 1 |
| 1830s | 12.2% | 12.2% | 12.2% | 1 |
| 1840s | 14.2% | 14.2% | 14.2% | 1 |
| 1850s | 16.6% | 16.6% | 16.6% | 1 |
| 1860s | 19.3% | 19.3% | 19.3% | 1 |
| 1870s | 22.5% | 22.5% | 22.5% | 1 |
| 1880s | 26.3% | 26.3% | 26.3% | 1 |
| 1890s | 30.7% | 30.7% | 30.7% | 1 |
| 1900s | 35.8% | 35.8% | 35.8% | 1 |
| 1910s | 41.8% | 41.8% | 41.8% | 1 |
| 1920s | 48.7% | 48.7% | 48.7% | 1 |
| 1930s | 56.9% | 56.9% | 56.9% | 1 |
| 1940s | 66.3% | 66.3% | 66.3% | 1 |
| 1950s | 78.8% | 75.8% | 81.2% | 10 |
| 1960s | 83.0% | 81.6% | 84.8% | 10 |
| 1970s | 85.8% | 85.3% | 86.0% | 10 |
| 1980s | 85.5% | 85.4% | 85.8% | 10 |
| 1990s | 85.3% | 85.1% | 85.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 85.6% | 85.1% | 86.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 86.8% | 86.2% | 87.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 87.4% | 87.2% | 87.7% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Australia
More population data for Australia
- Population growth rate, by level of development 0.5% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 2.09 million people (2100)
- Population density 5.61 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth 0.5% (2100)
- Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate 1.48 births per woman (2024)
- Refugees by country of asylum 29,511 people (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception 1.48 births per woman (2024)
- Total fertility rate vs. contraceptive prevalence 1.48 births per woman (2024)
- Natural population growth rate 0.5% (2023)
- Fertility rate: births per woman 1.64 live births per woman (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 in Australia?
- Share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 in Australia was 87.7% in 2025, according to HYDE (2023); United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 recorded in Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 87.7% in 2025.
- What is the lowest share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1000.
- How does Australia rank for share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050?
- Australia ranks 49th out of 238 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Australia data come from?
- The figures come from HYDE (2023); United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the population living in urban areas, combining UN estimates with modelled historical data.