Share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 in Pakistan
Pakistan: Share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 was 39.5% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
39.5%
Change on year
up 0.9%
World rank
189th
of 238 countries
All-time high
39.5%
in 2025
All-time low
0.0%
in 1000
Years of data
108
1000–2025
Share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 in Pakistan, 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
In 2025, share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 in Pakistan stood at 39.5%. That is the highest value across all 108 years on record.
The figure is up 0.9% on the previous year and up 10.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 in Pakistan peaked at 39.5% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1000.
Pakistan ranks 189th of 238 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 in Pakistan, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1000 | 0.0% | — |
| 1100 | 0.0% | +200.0% |
| 1200 | 0.0% | +200.0% |
| 1300 | 0.0% | +200.0% |
| 1400 | 0.1% | +200.0% |
| 1500 | 0.2% | +200.0% |
| 1600 | 0.6% | +200.0% |
| 1700 | 1.9% | +200.0% |
| 1710 | 2.2% | +12.7% |
| 1720 | 2.4% | +9.5% |
| 1730 | 2.6% | +9.5% |
| 1740 | 2.8% | +9.5% |
| 1750 | 3.1% | +9.5% |
| 1760 | 3.4% | +9.5% |
| 1770 | 3.7% | +9.5% |
| 1780 | 4.1% | +9.5% |
| 1790 | 4.5% | +9.5% |
| 1800 | 4.9% | +9.5% |
| 1810 | 5.4% | +9.5% |
| 1820 | 5.9% | +9.5% |
| 1830 | 6.5% | +9.5% |
| 1840 | 7.1% | +9.5% |
| 1850 | 7.7% | +9.5% |
| 1860 | 8.5% | +9.5% |
| 1870 | 9.3% | +9.5% |
| 1880 | 10.2% | +9.5% |
| 1890 | 11.1% | +9.5% |
| 1900 | 12.2% | +9.5% |
| 1910 | 13.4% | +9.5% |
| 1920 | 14.6% | +9.5% |
| 1930 | 16.0% | +9.5% |
| 1940 | 17.5% | +9.5% |
| 1950 | 17.4% | -0.6% |
| 1951 | 18.0% | +3.1% |
| 1952 | 18.6% | +3.2% |
| 1953 | 19.1% | +3.0% |
| 1954 | 19.6% | +2.8% |
| 1955 | 20.1% | +2.6% |
| 1956 | 20.6% | +2.4% |
| 1957 | 21.1% | +2.2% |
| 1958 | 21.5% | +2.1% |
| 1959 | 21.9% | +1.9% |
| 1960 | 22.3% | +1.7% |
| 1961 | 22.6% | +1.5% |
| 1962 | 22.9% | +1.3% |
| 1963 | 23.2% | +1.2% |
| 1964 | 23.5% | +1.1% |
| 1965 | 23.7% | +1.0% |
| 1966 | 23.9% | +1.0% |
| 1967 | 24.1% | +0.9% |
| 1968 | 24.4% | +0.9% |
| 1969 | 24.6% | +0.9% |
| 1970 | 24.8% | +1.0% |
| 1971 | 25.1% | +1.0% |
| 1972 | 25.3% | +1.1% |
| 1973 | 25.6% | +1.2% |
| 1974 | 26.0% | +1.3% |
| 1975 | 26.3% | +1.3% |
| 1976 | 26.7% | +1.4% |
| 1977 | 27.1% | +1.4% |
| 1978 | 27.4% | +1.3% |
| 1979 | 27.8% | +1.3% |
| 1980 | 28.1% | +1.2% |
| 1981 | 28.4% | +1.1% |
| 1982 | 28.7% | +1.0% |
| 1983 | 29.0% | +1.0% |
| 1984 | 29.2% | +0.9% |
| 1985 | 29.5% | +0.9% |
| 1986 | 29.8% | +0.9% |
| 1987 | 30.0% | +0.9% |
| 1988 | 30.3% | +0.8% |
| 1989 | 30.5% | +0.8% |
| 1990 | 30.8% | +0.8% |
| 1991 | 31.0% | +0.8% |
| 1992 | 31.2% | +0.8% |
| 1993 | 31.5% | +0.7% |
| 1994 | 31.7% | +0.7% |
| 1995 | 31.9% | +0.7% |
| 1996 | 32.1% | +0.7% |
| 1997 | 32.4% | +0.7% |
| 1998 | 32.6% | +0.7% |
| 1999 | 32.8% | +0.7% |
| 2000 | 33.0% | +0.6% |
| 2001 | 33.2% | +0.6% |
| 2002 | 33.4% | +0.6% |
| 2003 | 33.6% | +0.5% |
| 2004 | 33.7% | +0.5% |
| 2005 | 33.9% | +0.5% |
| 2006 | 34.1% | +0.5% |
| 2007 | 34.3% | +0.5% |
| 2008 | 34.4% | +0.5% |
| 2009 | 34.6% | +0.5% |
| 2010 | 34.8% | +0.5% |
| 2011 | 35.0% | +0.6% |
| 2012 | 35.2% | +0.6% |
| 2013 | 35.4% | +0.6% |
| 2014 | 35.7% | +0.6% |
| 2015 | 35.9% | +0.7% |
| 2016 | 36.2% | +0.7% |
| 2017 | 36.4% | +0.8% |
| 2018 | 36.7% | +0.9% |
| 2019 | 37.1% | +1.0% |
| 2020 | 37.5% | +1.1% |
| 2021 | 37.9% | +1.1% |
| 2022 | 38.4% | +1.2% |
| 2023 | 38.8% | +1.2% |
| 2024 | 39.2% | +0.9% |
| 2025 | 39.5% | +0.9% |
Pakistan compared with similar countries
- Pakistan's 39.5% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 50.9%, 78% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Pakistan's 39.5% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 79.5%, 50% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 in Pakistan changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1100 | +200.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 1200 | +200.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 1300 | +200.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 1400 | +200.0% | 0.0% | 0.1% |
| 1500 | +200.0% | 0.1% | 0.2% |
| 1600 | +200.0% | 0.2% | 0.6% |
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 | 0.6% | 0.6% | 0.6% | 1 |
| 1700s | 1.9% | 1.9% | 1.9% | 1 |
| 1710s | 2.2% | 2.2% | 2.2% | 1 |
| 1720s | 2.4% | 2.4% | 2.4% | 1 |
| 1730s | 2.6% | 2.6% | 2.6% | 1 |
| 1740s | 2.8% | 2.8% | 2.8% | 1 |
| 1750s | 3.1% | 3.1% | 3.1% | 1 |
| 1760s | 3.4% | 3.4% | 3.4% | 1 |
| 1770s | 3.7% | 3.7% | 3.7% | 1 |
| 1780s | 4.1% | 4.1% | 4.1% | 1 |
| 1790s | 4.5% | 4.5% | 4.5% | 1 |
| 1800s | 4.9% | 4.9% | 4.9% | 1 |
| 1810s | 5.4% | 5.4% | 5.4% | 1 |
| 1820s | 5.9% | 5.9% | 5.9% | 1 |
| 1830s | 6.5% | 6.5% | 6.5% | 1 |
| 1840s | 7.1% | 7.1% | 7.1% | 1 |
| 1850s | 7.7% | 7.7% | 7.7% | 1 |
| 1860s | 8.5% | 8.5% | 8.5% | 1 |
| 1870s | 9.3% | 9.3% | 9.3% | 1 |
| 1880s | 10.2% | 10.2% | 10.2% | 1 |
| 1890s | 11.1% | 11.1% | 11.1% | 1 |
| 1900s | 12.2% | 12.2% | 12.2% | 1 |
| 1910s | 13.4% | 13.4% | 13.4% | 1 |
| 1920s | 14.6% | 14.6% | 14.6% | 1 |
| 1930s | 16.0% | 16.0% | 16.0% | 1 |
| 1940s | 17.5% | 17.5% | 17.5% | 1 |
| 1950s | 19.8% | 17.4% | 21.9% | 10 |
| 1960s | 23.5% | 22.3% | 24.6% | 10 |
| 1970s | 26.2% | 24.8% | 27.8% | 10 |
| 1980s | 29.3% | 28.1% | 30.5% | 10 |
| 1990s | 31.8% | 30.8% | 32.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 33.8% | 33.0% | 34.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 35.8% | 34.8% | 37.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 38.6% | 37.5% | 39.5% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Pakistan
More population data for Pakistan
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.1091 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.1692 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate 0.7801 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.1692 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development 0.2% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 32.24 million people (2100)
- Population density 662.88 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth 0.2% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.5037 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 1.8 Percent per annum (2030)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 in Pakistan?
- Share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 in Pakistan was 39.5% 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 Pakistan?
- The highest recorded value was 39.5% in 2025.
- What is the lowest share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 recorded in Pakistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1000.
- How does Pakistan rank for share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050?
- Pakistan ranks 189th out of 238 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 rising or falling in Pakistan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 10.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Pakistan 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 modeled historical data.