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
Latest (2025)
85.7%
Change on year
up 0.3%
World rank
55th
of 238 countries
All-time high
85.7%
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 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.
Share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 in Switzerland, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1000 | 0.0% | — |
| 1100 | 0.0% | — |
| 1200 | 0.0% | — |
| 1300 | 0.0% | — |
| 1400 | 0.7% | — |
| 1500 | 2.4% | +242.9% |
| 1600 | 2.5% | +4.2% |
| 1700 | 3.3% | +32.0% |
| 1710 | 3.5% | +7.8% |
| 1720 | 3.9% | +11.1% |
| 1730 | 4.3% | +11.1% |
| 1740 | 4.8% | +11.1% |
| 1750 | 5.4% | +11.1% |
| 1760 | 6.0% | +11.1% |
| 1770 | 6.6% | +11.1% |
| 1780 | 7.4% | +11.1% |
| 1790 | 8.2% | +11.1% |
| 1800 | 9.1% | +11.1% |
| 1810 | 10.1% | +11.1% |
| 1820 | 11.2% | +11.1% |
| 1830 | 12.5% | +11.1% |
| 1840 | 13.8% | +11.1% |
| 1850 | 15.4% | +11.0% |
| 1860 | 17.0% | +10.7% |
| 1870 | 18.9% | +10.9% |
| 1880 | 20.9% | +10.6% |
| 1890 | 23.1% | +10.8% |
| 1900 | 25.5% | +10.2% |
| 1910 | 28.2% | +10.8% |
| 1920 | 31.3% | +11.1% |
| 1930 | 34.8% | +10.9% |
| 1940 | 38.6% | +10.9% |
| 1950 | 44.3% | +15.0% |
| 1951 | 44.9% | +1.3% |
| 1952 | 45.5% | +1.4% |
| 1953 | 46.2% | +1.4% |
| 1954 | 46.9% | +1.5% |
| 1955 | 47.6% | +1.5% |
| 1956 | 48.3% | +1.5% |
| 1957 | 49.0% | +1.5% |
| 1958 | 49.7% | +1.4% |
| 1959 | 50.3% | +1.4% |
| 1960 | 51.0% | +1.3% |
| 1961 | 51.7% | +1.3% |
| 1962 | 52.4% | +1.3% |
| 1963 | 53.0% | +1.3% |
| 1964 | 53.7% | +1.3% |
| 1965 | 54.4% | +1.3% |
| 1966 | 55.1% | +1.2% |
| 1967 | 55.7% | +1.2% |
| 1968 | 56.3% | +1.1% |
| 1969 | 56.9% | +1.0% |
| 1970 | 57.4% | +0.9% |
| 1971 | 57.9% | +0.8% |
| 1972 | 58.3% | +0.7% |
| 1973 | 58.7% | +0.7% |
| 1974 | 59.1% | +0.6% |
| 1975 | 59.4% | +0.6% |
| 1976 | 59.7% | +0.6% |
| 1977 | 60.1% | +0.6% |
| 1978 | 60.4% | +0.6% |
| 1979 | 60.8% | +0.7% |
| 1980 | 61.3% | +0.7% |
| 1981 | 61.8% | +0.9% |
| 1982 | 62.4% | +1.0% |
| 1983 | 63.2% | +1.2% |
| 1984 | 64.0% | +1.3% |
| 1985 | 64.8% | +1.3% |
| 1986 | 65.6% | +1.3% |
| 1987 | 66.5% | +1.3% |
| 1988 | 67.3% | +1.2% |
| 1989 | 68.0% | +1.1% |
| 1990 | 68.7% | +1.0% |
| 1991 | 69.2% | +0.8% |
| 1992 | 69.8% | +0.8% |
| 1993 | 70.4% | +0.8% |
| 1994 | 71.0% | +0.8% |
| 1995 | 71.5% | +0.8% |
| 1996 | 72.0% | +0.7% |
| 1997 | 72.5% | +0.6% |
| 1998 | 72.9% | +0.5% |
| 1999 | 73.1% | +0.4% |
| 2000 | 73.3% | +0.2% |
| 2001 | 73.4% | +0.1% |
| 2002 | 73.4% | +0.1% |
| 2003 | 73.5% | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 73.5% | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 73.5% | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 73.5% | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 73.5% | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 73.5% | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 73.6% | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 73.6% | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 73.7% | +0.1% |
| 2012 | 73.8% | +0.1% |
| 2013 | 74.1% | +0.5% |
| 2014 | 74.7% | +0.8% |
| 2015 | 75.6% | +1.2% |
| 2016 | 76.7% | +1.4% |
| 2017 | 77.9% | +1.6% |
| 2018 | 79.3% | +1.8% |
| 2019 | 80.8% | +1.9% |
| 2020 | 82.3% | +1.9% |
| 2021 | 84.2% | +2.3% |
| 2022 | 84.9% | +0.9% |
| 2023 | 85.2% | +0.3% |
| 2024 | 85.5% | +0.3% |
| 2025 | 85.7% | +0.3% |
Switzerland compared with similar countries
- Switzerland's 85.7% is above the median for high income countries, which is 81.3%, 1.1× the median. (85 countries reporting)
- Switzerland's 85.7% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 69.6%, 1.2× the median. (56 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 in Switzerland 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1500 | +242.9% | 0.7% | 2.4% |
| 1700 | +32.0% | 2.5% | 3.3% |
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 regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.0652 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -0.0595 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.0652 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.2093 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 9,754 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.4828 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.1371 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth 0.0% (2100)
- Population density 230.99 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 392,499 people (2100)
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 modeled historical data.