Share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 in Switzerland
Switzerland: Share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 was 85.7% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 in Switzerland, 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 Switzerland is 85.7%, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 108 years on record.
The figure is up 0.3% on the previous year and up 13.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 in Switzerland peaked at 85.7% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1000.
That places Switzerland 55th 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.
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 | 0.7% | 0.7% | 0.7% | 1 |
| 1500s | 2.4% | 2.4% | 2.4% | 1 |
| 1600s | 2.5% | 2.5% | 2.5% | 1 |
| 1700s | 3.3% | 3.3% | 3.3% | 1 |
| 1710s | 3.5% | 3.5% | 3.5% | 1 |
| 1720s | 3.9% | 3.9% | 3.9% | 1 |
| 1730s | 4.3% | 4.3% | 4.3% | 1 |
| 1740s | 4.8% | 4.8% | 4.8% | 1 |
| 1750s | 5.4% | 5.4% | 5.4% | 1 |
| 1760s | 6.0% | 6.0% | 6.0% | 1 |
| 1770s | 6.6% | 6.6% | 6.6% | 1 |
| 1780s | 7.4% | 7.4% | 7.4% | 1 |
| 1790s | 8.2% | 8.2% | 8.2% | 1 |
| 1800s | 9.1% | 9.1% | 9.1% | 1 |
| 1810s | 10.1% | 10.1% | 10.1% | 1 |
| 1820s | 11.2% | 11.2% | 11.2% | 1 |
| 1830s | 12.5% | 12.5% | 12.5% | 1 |
| 1840s | 13.8% | 13.8% | 13.8% | 1 |
| 1850s | 15.4% | 15.4% | 15.4% | 1 |
| 1860s | 17.0% | 17.0% | 17.0% | 1 |
| 1870s | 18.9% | 18.9% | 18.9% | 1 |
| 1880s | 20.9% | 20.9% | 20.9% | 1 |
| 1890s | 23.1% | 23.1% | 23.1% | 1 |
| 1900s | 25.5% | 25.5% | 25.5% | 1 |
| 1910s | 28.2% | 28.2% | 28.2% | 1 |
| 1920s | 31.3% | 31.3% | 31.3% | 1 |
| 1930s | 34.8% | 34.8% | 34.8% | 1 |
| 1940s | 38.6% | 38.6% | 38.6% | 1 |
| 1950s | 47.3% | 44.3% | 50.3% | 10 |
| 1960s | 54.0% | 51.0% | 56.9% | 10 |
| 1970s | 59.2% | 57.4% | 60.8% | 10 |
| 1980s | 64.5% | 61.3% | 68.0% | 10 |
| 1990s | 71.1% | 68.7% | 73.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 73.5% | 73.3% | 73.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 76.0% | 73.6% | 80.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 84.6% | 82.3% | 85.7% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Switzerland
- 52 Western Sahara 86.9% compare
- 53 French Guiana 86.6% compare
- 54 United Arab Emirates 86.0% compare
- 56 Peru 85.6% compare
- 57 Saudi Arabia 84.6% compare
- 58 New Zealand 84.0% compare
More population data for Switzerland
- Population growth rate, by level of development 0.0% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 392,499 people (2100)
- Population density 230.99 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth 0.0% (2100)
- Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate 1.29 births per woman (2024)
- Refugees by country of asylum 196,167 people (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception 1.29 births per woman (2024)
- Total fertility rate vs. contraceptive prevalence 1.29 births per woman (2024)
- Natural population growth rate 0.1% (2023)
- Fertility rate: births per woman 1.43 live births per woman (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 in Switzerland?
- Share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 in Switzerland was 85.7% 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 Switzerland?
- The highest recorded value was 85.7% in 2025.
- What is the lowest share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 recorded in Switzerland?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1000.
- How does Switzerland rank for share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050?
- Switzerland ranks 55th out of 238 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 rising or falling in Switzerland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 13.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Switzerland 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.