Share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 was 84.6% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
84.6%
Change on year
up 0.2%
World rank
57th
of 238 countries
All-time high
84.6%
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 Saudi Arabia, 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
Saudi Arabia recorded 84.6% for share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 in 2025. That is the highest value across all 108 years on record.
The figure is up 0.2% on the previous year and up 2.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 in Saudi Arabia peaked at 84.6% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1000.
That places Saudi Arabia 57th out of 238 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 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 Saudi Arabia, 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 | 0.7% | +200.0% |
| 1700 | 2.2% | +200.0% |
| 1710 | 2.5% | +12.7% |
| 1720 | 2.7% | +9.5% |
| 1730 | 3.0% | +9.5% |
| 1740 | 3.2% | +9.5% |
| 1750 | 3.5% | +9.5% |
| 1760 | 3.9% | +9.5% |
| 1770 | 4.2% | +9.5% |
| 1780 | 4.7% | +9.5% |
| 1790 | 5.1% | +9.5% |
| 1800 | 5.6% | +9.5% |
| 1810 | 6.1% | +9.5% |
| 1820 | 6.7% | +9.5% |
| 1830 | 7.3% | +9.5% |
| 1840 | 8.0% | +9.5% |
| 1850 | 8.8% | +9.5% |
| 1860 | 9.6% | +9.5% |
| 1870 | 10.6% | +9.5% |
| 1880 | 11.6% | +9.5% |
| 1890 | 12.7% | +9.5% |
| 1900 | 13.9% | +9.5% |
| 1910 | 15.2% | +9.5% |
| 1920 | 16.6% | +9.5% |
| 1930 | 18.2% | +9.5% |
| 1940 | 19.9% | +9.5% |
| 1950 | 21.3% | +6.8% |
| 1951 | 22.0% | +3.3% |
| 1952 | 22.8% | +3.6% |
| 1953 | 23.6% | +3.8% |
| 1954 | 24.6% | +3.9% |
| 1955 | 25.6% | +4.1% |
| 1956 | 26.6% | +4.2% |
| 1957 | 27.8% | +4.2% |
| 1958 | 28.9% | +4.2% |
| 1959 | 30.2% | +4.2% |
| 1960 | 31.4% | +4.2% |
| 1961 | 32.8% | +4.2% |
| 1962 | 34.1% | +4.1% |
| 1963 | 35.6% | +4.3% |
| 1964 | 37.2% | +4.6% |
| 1965 | 39.0% | +4.8% |
| 1966 | 40.9% | +4.9% |
| 1967 | 42.9% | +4.9% |
| 1968 | 45.0% | +4.8% |
| 1969 | 47.1% | +4.6% |
| 1970 | 49.2% | +4.4% |
| 1971 | 51.2% | +4.2% |
| 1972 | 53.2% | +3.8% |
| 1973 | 55.1% | +3.5% |
| 1974 | 56.8% | +3.1% |
| 1975 | 58.4% | +2.9% |
| 1976 | 60.1% | +2.8% |
| 1977 | 61.7% | +2.7% |
| 1978 | 63.3% | +2.6% |
| 1979 | 64.9% | +2.5% |
| 1980 | 66.4% | +2.4% |
| 1981 | 67.9% | +2.2% |
| 1982 | 69.3% | +2.1% |
| 1983 | 70.6% | +1.9% |
| 1984 | 71.8% | +1.7% |
| 1985 | 72.9% | +1.5% |
| 1986 | 73.9% | +1.3% |
| 1987 | 74.8% | +1.2% |
| 1988 | 75.6% | +1.1% |
| 1989 | 76.3% | +1.0% |
| 1990 | 77.0% | +0.9% |
| 1991 | 77.6% | +0.7% |
| 1992 | 78.0% | +0.6% |
| 1993 | 78.3% | +0.4% |
| 1994 | 78.6% | +0.4% |
| 1995 | 78.9% | +0.3% |
| 1996 | 79.2% | +0.3% |
| 1997 | 79.4% | +0.3% |
| 1998 | 79.6% | +0.3% |
| 1999 | 79.8% | +0.2% |
| 2000 | 80.0% | +0.2% |
| 2001 | 80.2% | +0.2% |
| 2002 | 80.3% | +0.2% |
| 2003 | 80.5% | +0.2% |
| 2004 | 80.8% | +0.3% |
| 2005 | 81.0% | +0.3% |
| 2006 | 81.2% | +0.3% |
| 2007 | 81.4% | +0.3% |
| 2008 | 81.6% | +0.3% |
| 2009 | 81.9% | +0.3% |
| 2010 | 82.1% | +0.3% |
| 2011 | 82.3% | +0.2% |
| 2012 | 82.4% | +0.2% |
| 2013 | 82.6% | +0.2% |
| 2014 | 82.8% | +0.2% |
| 2015 | 83.0% | +0.2% |
| 2016 | 83.1% | +0.2% |
| 2017 | 83.3% | +0.2% |
| 2018 | 83.5% | +0.2% |
| 2019 | 83.6% | +0.2% |
| 2020 | 83.8% | +0.2% |
| 2021 | 84.0% | +0.2% |
| 2022 | 84.1% | +0.2% |
| 2023 | 84.3% | +0.2% |
| 2024 | 84.5% | +0.2% |
| 2025 | 84.6% | +0.2% |
Saudi Arabia compared with similar countries
- Saudi Arabia's 84.6% is above the median for high income countries, which is 81.3%, 1.0× the median. (85 countries reporting)
- Saudi Arabia's 84.6% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 79.5%, 1.1× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 in Saudi Arabia 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% | 0.7% |
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 | 0.7% | 0.7% | 0.7% | 1 |
| 1700s | 2.2% | 2.2% | 2.2% | 1 |
| 1710s | 2.5% | 2.5% | 2.5% | 1 |
| 1720s | 2.7% | 2.7% | 2.7% | 1 |
| 1730s | 3.0% | 3.0% | 3.0% | 1 |
| 1740s | 3.2% | 3.2% | 3.2% | 1 |
| 1750s | 3.5% | 3.5% | 3.5% | 1 |
| 1760s | 3.9% | 3.9% | 3.9% | 1 |
| 1770s | 4.2% | 4.2% | 4.2% | 1 |
| 1780s | 4.7% | 4.7% | 4.7% | 1 |
| 1790s | 5.1% | 5.1% | 5.1% | 1 |
| 1800s | 5.6% | 5.6% | 5.6% | 1 |
| 1810s | 6.1% | 6.1% | 6.1% | 1 |
| 1820s | 6.7% | 6.7% | 6.7% | 1 |
| 1830s | 7.3% | 7.3% | 7.3% | 1 |
| 1840s | 8.0% | 8.0% | 8.0% | 1 |
| 1850s | 8.8% | 8.8% | 8.8% | 1 |
| 1860s | 9.6% | 9.6% | 9.6% | 1 |
| 1870s | 10.6% | 10.6% | 10.6% | 1 |
| 1880s | 11.6% | 11.6% | 11.6% | 1 |
| 1890s | 12.7% | 12.7% | 12.7% | 1 |
| 1900s | 13.9% | 13.9% | 13.9% | 1 |
| 1910s | 15.2% | 15.2% | 15.2% | 1 |
| 1920s | 16.6% | 16.6% | 16.6% | 1 |
| 1930s | 18.2% | 18.2% | 18.2% | 1 |
| 1940s | 19.9% | 19.9% | 19.9% | 1 |
| 1950s | 25.3% | 21.3% | 30.2% | 10 |
| 1960s | 38.6% | 31.4% | 47.1% | 10 |
| 1970s | 57.4% | 49.2% | 64.9% | 10 |
| 1980s | 72.0% | 66.4% | 76.3% | 10 |
| 1990s | 78.6% | 77.0% | 79.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 80.9% | 80.0% | 81.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 82.9% | 82.1% | 83.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 84.2% | 83.8% | 84.6% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
- 54 United Arab Emirates 86.0% compare
- 55 Switzerland 85.7% compare
- 56 Peru 85.6% compare
- 58 New Zealand 84.0% compare
- 59 Norway 83.6% compare
- 60 United Kingdom 83.3% compare
More population data for Saudi Arabia
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.6339 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate 0.5774 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.6339 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.1019 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 48,374 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 1.2 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate 0.5868 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth 0.6% (2100)
- Population density 33.03 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 4.10 million people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 in Saudi Arabia?
- Share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 in Saudi Arabia was 84.6% 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 Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 84.6% in 2025.
- What is the lowest share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1000.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 57th out of 238 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia 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.