Share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 was 83.3% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 in United Kingdom, 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 United Kingdom stood at 83.3%. That is the highest value across all 108 years on record.
The figure is up 0.1% on the previous year and up 1.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 in United Kingdom peaked at 83.3% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 2.1%, in 1500.
That places United Kingdom 60th out of 238 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 108 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 2.4% | 2.4% | 2.4% | 1 |
| 1100s | 3.1% | 3.1% | 3.1% | 1 |
| 1200s | 2.2% | 2.2% | 2.2% | 1 |
| 1300s | 2.2% | 2.2% | 2.2% | 1 |
| 1400s | 2.5% | 2.5% | 2.5% | 1 |
| 1500s | 2.1% | 2.1% | 2.1% | 1 |
| 1600s | 2.1% | 2.1% | 2.1% | 1 |
| 1700s | 2.1% | 2.1% | 2.1% | 1 |
| 1710s | 6.3% | 6.3% | 6.3% | 1 |
| 1720s | 10.5% | 10.5% | 10.5% | 1 |
| 1730s | 14.8% | 14.8% | 14.8% | 1 |
| 1740s | 19.0% | 19.0% | 19.0% | 1 |
| 1750s | 23.2% | 23.2% | 23.2% | 1 |
| 1760s | 24.3% | 24.3% | 24.3% | 1 |
| 1770s | 25.4% | 25.4% | 25.4% | 1 |
| 1780s | 26.5% | 26.5% | 26.5% | 1 |
| 1790s | 27.6% | 27.6% | 27.6% | 1 |
| 1800s | 28.7% | 28.7% | 28.7% | 1 |
| 1810s | 32.1% | 32.1% | 32.1% | 1 |
| 1820s | 35.4% | 35.4% | 35.4% | 1 |
| 1830s | 38.8% | 38.8% | 38.8% | 1 |
| 1840s | 42.1% | 42.1% | 42.1% | 1 |
| 1850s | 45.5% | 45.5% | 45.5% | 1 |
| 1860s | 48.8% | 48.8% | 48.8% | 1 |
| 1870s | 52.2% | 52.2% | 52.2% | 1 |
| 1880s | 55.5% | 55.5% | 55.5% | 1 |
| 1890s | 58.9% | 58.9% | 58.9% | 1 |
| 1900s | 62.2% | 62.2% | 62.2% | 1 |
| 1910s | 65.6% | 65.6% | 65.6% | 1 |
| 1920s | 68.9% | 68.9% | 68.9% | 1 |
| 1930s | 72.3% | 72.3% | 72.3% | 1 |
| 1940s | 75.6% | 75.6% | 75.6% | 1 |
| 1950s | 79.7% | 78.8% | 80.3% | 10 |
| 1960s | 77.7% | 77.0% | 78.6% | 10 |
| 1970s | 77.5% | 76.9% | 78.5% | 10 |
| 1980s | 78.4% | 78.1% | 78.6% | 10 |
| 1990s | 78.7% | 78.1% | 79.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 80.4% | 79.8% | 80.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 81.8% | 81.0% | 82.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 83.1% | 82.9% | 83.3% | 6 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
- 57 Saudi Arabia 84.6% compare
- 58 New Zealand 84.0% compare
- 59 Norway 83.6% compare
- 61 Canada 82.9% compare
- 62 Germany 82.1% compare
- 63 Falkland Islands 81.5% compare
More population data for United Kingdom
- World population growth -0.2% (2100)
- Population density 307.14 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 3.21 million people (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -0.2% (2100)
- Total fertility rate vs. contraceptive prevalence 1.55 births per woman (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception 1.55 births per woman (2024)
- Refugees by country of asylum 515,677 people (2024)
- Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate 1.55 births per woman (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. Share of people who are religious 1.56 live births per woman (2023)
- Fertility rate accounting for survival until childbearing age 1.55 children per women (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 in United Kingdom?
- Share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 in United Kingdom was 83.3% 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 United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 83.3% in 2025.
- What is the lowest share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.1% in 1500.
- How does United Kingdom rank for share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050?
- United Kingdom ranks 60th out of 238 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United Kingdom 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.