Share of population living in urban areas vs. GDP per capita in Yemen
Yemen: Share of population living in urban areas vs. GDP per capita was 37.0% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
37.0%
Change on year
up 0.6%
World rank
194th
of 236 countries
All-time high
37.0%
in 2025
All-time low
1.9%
in 1950
Years of data
76
1950–2025
Share of population living in urban areas vs. GDP per capita in Yemen, 1950–2025
Source: United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Yemen recorded 37.0% for share of population living in urban areas vs. gdp per capita in 2025. That is the highest value across all 76 years on record.
The figure is up 0.6% on the previous year and up 14.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in urban areas vs. gdp per capita in Yemen peaked at 37.0% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 1.9%, in 1950.
That places Yemen 194th out of 236 countries with data for 2025, putting it 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 vs. GDP per capita in Yemen, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 1.9% | — |
| 1951 | 2.0% | +5.3% |
| 1952 | 2.1% | +5.7% |
| 1953 | 2.2% | +6.0% |
| 1954 | 2.4% | +6.2% |
| 1955 | 2.5% | +6.3% |
| 1956 | 2.7% | +6.3% |
| 1957 | 2.9% | +6.2% |
| 1958 | 3.0% | +6.1% |
| 1959 | 3.2% | +6.0% |
| 1960 | 3.4% | +5.9% |
| 1961 | 3.6% | +5.7% |
| 1962 | 3.8% | +5.7% |
| 1963 | 4.0% | +5.7% |
| 1964 | 4.2% | +5.7% |
| 1965 | 4.5% | +5.8% |
| 1966 | 4.8% | +5.9% |
| 1967 | 5.0% | +5.9% |
| 1968 | 5.3% | +6.0% |
| 1969 | 5.7% | +6.1% |
| 1970 | 6.0% | +6.2% |
| 1971 | 6.4% | +6.7% |
| 1972 | 6.9% | +7.4% |
| 1973 | 7.4% | +7.8% |
| 1974 | 8.0% | +8.0% |
| 1975 | 8.7% | +8.0% |
| 1976 | 9.4% | +7.9% |
| 1977 | 10.1% | +7.7% |
| 1978 | 10.8% | +7.4% |
| 1979 | 11.6% | +7.1% |
| 1980 | 12.4% | +6.8% |
| 1981 | 13.2% | +6.4% |
| 1982 | 14.0% | +6.0% |
| 1983 | 14.7% | +5.6% |
| 1984 | 15.5% | +5.2% |
| 1985 | 16.3% | +4.9% |
| 1986 | 17.0% | +4.5% |
| 1987 | 17.8% | +4.5% |
| 1988 | 18.6% | +4.5% |
| 1989 | 19.4% | +4.4% |
| 1990 | 20.2% | +4.2% |
| 1991 | 21.0% | +4.0% |
| 1992 | 21.8% | +3.7% |
| 1993 | 22.5% | +3.4% |
| 1994 | 23.2% | +3.0% |
| 1995 | 23.8% | +2.7% |
| 1996 | 24.4% | +2.5% |
| 1997 | 25.0% | +2.4% |
| 1998 | 25.5% | +2.3% |
| 1999 | 26.1% | +2.1% |
| 2000 | 26.6% | +2.0% |
| 2001 | 27.1% | +1.9% |
| 2002 | 27.6% | +1.8% |
| 2003 | 28.0% | +1.6% |
| 2004 | 28.5% | +1.5% |
| 2005 | 28.9% | +1.4% |
| 2006 | 29.2% | +1.3% |
| 2007 | 29.6% | +1.3% |
| 2008 | 30.0% | +1.2% |
| 2009 | 30.3% | +1.1% |
| 2010 | 30.6% | +1.1% |
| 2011 | 30.9% | +1.0% |
| 2012 | 31.2% | +0.9% |
| 2013 | 31.4% | +0.8% |
| 2014 | 31.9% | +1.3% |
| 2015 | 32.4% | +1.6% |
| 2016 | 33.0% | +1.7% |
| 2017 | 33.6% | +1.8% |
| 2018 | 34.2% | +1.9% |
| 2019 | 34.9% | +2.0% |
| 2020 | 35.7% | +2.3% |
| 2021 | 36.1% | +1.0% |
| 2022 | 36.3% | +0.7% |
| 2023 | 36.6% | +0.7% |
| 2024 | 36.8% | +0.6% |
| 2025 | 37.0% | +0.6% |
Yemen compared with similar countries
- Yemen's 37.0% is above the median for low income countries, which is 34.5%, 1.1× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Yemen's 37.0% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 79.5%, 47% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 2.5% | 1.9% | 3.2% | 10 |
| 1960s | 4.4% | 3.4% | 5.7% | 10 |
| 1970s | 8.5% | 6.0% | 11.6% | 10 |
| 1980s | 15.9% | 12.4% | 19.4% | 10 |
| 1990s | 23.3% | 20.2% | 26.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 28.6% | 26.6% | 30.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 32.4% | 30.6% | 34.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 36.4% | 35.7% | 37.0% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Yemen
More population data for Yemen
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.0907 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.2706 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate 1.67 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.2706 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development 0.3% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 6.88 million people (2100)
- Population density 208.41 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth 0.3% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.5817 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 2.01 Percent per annum (2030)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in urban areas vs. gdp per capita in Yemen?
- Share of population living in urban areas vs. gdp per capita in Yemen was 37.0% in 2025, according to 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 vs. gdp per capita recorded in Yemen?
- The highest recorded value was 37.0% in 2025.
- What is the lowest share of population living in urban areas vs. gdp per capita recorded in Yemen?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.9% in 1950.
- How does Yemen rank for share of population living in urban areas vs. gdp per capita?
- Yemen ranks 194th out of 236 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of population living in urban areas vs. gdp per capita rising or falling in Yemen?
- Over the last ten years it is up 14.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Yemen data come from?
- The figures come from 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 vs. GDP per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the population living in urban areas, based on each country's national definition.