Urban population growth (annual %) by country
Annual urban population growth rate for year t is the exponential rate of growth of midyear urban population from year t-1 to t, expressed as a percentage. Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated using World Bank total population estimates...
Countries reporting
215
Highest
5.8%
Burundi
Lowest
-4.7%
Saint Martin (French part)
Median
1.3%
Years covered
65
1961–2025
Data points
17,129
What the numbers show
Urban population growth (annual %) is currently reported for 215 countries. The highest value is 5.8% in Burundi; the lowest is -4.7% in Saint Martin (French part).
The median across all reporting countries is 1.3%, and the mean is 1.5%.
Over the past decade 68 countries rose and 147 fell. The largest increase was in Spain (up 1,580.3%), and the largest decrease in Japan (down 23,213.1%).
Urban population growth: full country ranking
| # | Country | Latest | Year | 10-year change | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Burundi | 5.8% | 2025 | down 31.7% | rising |
| 2 | Chad | 5.7% | 2025 | up 31.0% | falling |
| 3 | Rwanda | 5.6% | 2025 | down 11.5% | volatile |
| 4 | Niger | 5.0% | 2025 | up 23.4% | falling |
| 5 | Mozambique | 4.9% | 2025 | up 35.6% | falling |
| 6 | United Arab Emirates | 4.9% | 2025 | down 13.4% | volatile |
| 7 | Saudi Arabia | 4.8% | 2025 | down 10.7% | falling |
| 8 | Tanzania | 4.8% | 2025 | down 5.2% | volatile |
| 9 | Uganda | 4.8% | 2025 | down 23.4% | rising |
| 10 | Mali | 4.8% | 2025 | down 11.2% | flat |
| 11 | Ethiopia | 4.6% | 2025 | down 6.2% | rising |
| 12 | Solomon Islands | 4.4% | 2025 | down 36.9% | falling |
| 13 | Malawi | 4.4% | 2025 | up 39.2% | falling |
| 14 | Central African Republic | 4.3% | 2025 | up 318.2% | volatile |
| 15 | Somalia | 4.3% | 2025 | down 38.2% | volatile |
| 16 | Burkina Faso | 4.3% | 2025 | up 9.1% | flat |
| 17 | Mauritania | 4.2% | 2025 | down 21.1% | falling |
| 18 | Papua New Guinea | 4.1% | 2025 | up 24.6% | volatile |
| 19 | Angola | 4.1% | 2025 | down 14.9% | falling |
| 20 | Democratic Republic of Congo | 4.0% | 2025 | down 5.2% | rising |
| 21 | Oman | 4.0% | 2025 | down 19.9% | volatile |
| 22 | Qatar | 4.0% | 2025 | down 54.0% | volatile |
| 23 | Benin | 3.9% | 2025 | down 10.0% | falling |
| 24 | Madagascar | 3.8% | 2025 | up 8.9% | falling |
| 25 | Syria | 3.8% | 2025 | up 182.1% | volatile |
| 26 | Zambia | 3.7% | 2025 | down 7.6% | volatile |
| 27 | Afghanistan | 3.7% | 2025 | down 13.0% | volatile |
| 28 | Yemen | 3.5% | 2025 | down 25.1% | falling |
| 29 | Togo | 3.5% | 2025 | up 16.2% | falling |
| 30 | Guinea | 3.5% | 2025 | up 9.9% | falling |
| 31 | Cote d'Ivoire | 3.5% | 2025 | down 9.0% | falling |
| 32 | South Sudan | 3.5% | 2025 | up 1,189.2% | volatile |
| 33 | Zimbabwe | 3.4% | 2025 | up 33.4% | volatile |
| 34 | Lesotho | 3.3% | 2025 | down 39.4% | volatile |
| 35 | Georgia | 3.3% | 2025 | up 328.2% | volatile |
| 36 | Nigeria | 3.3% | 2025 | down 16.9% | falling |
| 37 | Guinea-Bissau | 3.3% | 2025 | down 7.5% | volatile |
| 38 | Gambia | 3.3% | 2025 | down 13.5% | falling |
| 39 | Sierra Leone | 3.3% | 2025 | down 3.8% | falling |
| 40 | Senegal | 3.3% | 2025 | down 28.3% | falling |
| 41 | Laos | 3.2% | 2025 | up 12.6% | falling |
| 42 | Liberia | 3.1% | 2025 | down 1.3% | volatile |
| 43 | Comoros | 3.0% | 2025 | down 6.2% | falling |
| 44 | Cameroon | 3.0% | 2025 | down 19.9% | falling |
| 45 | Ukraine | 3.0% | 2025 | up 1,260.5% | volatile |
| 46 | Namibia | 3.0% | 2025 | down 29.4% | rising |
| 47 | Kenya | 2.9% | 2025 | up 43.3% | falling |
| 48 | Kiribati | 2.9% | 2025 | up 22.0% | falling |
| 49 | Bangladesh | 2.9% | 2025 | up 41.1% | volatile |
| 50 | Eswatini | 2.8% | 2025 | up 77.5% | volatile |
| 51 | Ghana | 2.8% | 2025 | down 16.8% | falling |
| 52 | Congo | 2.7% | 2025 | up 4.4% | falling |
| 53 | Equatorial Guinea | 2.7% | 2025 | down 69.4% | volatile |
| 54 | Bhutan | 2.7% | 2025 | up 3.7% | volatile |
| 55 | Palestine | 2.6% | 2025 | up 5.2% | falling |
| 56 | Sudan | 2.6% | 2025 | down 36.0% | falling |
| 57 | Pakistan | 2.5% | 2025 | up 18.1% | falling |
| 58 | Honduras | 2.4% | 2025 | down 14.0% | falling |
| 59 | Sao Tome and Principe | 2.4% | 2025 | up 22.9% | falling |
| 60 | Vanuatu | 2.4% | 2025 | up 5.7% | falling |
| 61 | Gabon | 2.4% | 2025 | down 35.3% | volatile |
| 62 | Botswana | 2.3% | 2025 | up 22.7% | volatile |
| 63 | British Virgin Islands | 2.2% | 2025 | down 62.6% | falling |
| 64 | Iraq | 2.2% | 2025 | down 29.5% | falling |
| 65 | Haiti | 2.2% | 2025 | down 21.9% | falling |
| 66 | Guatemala | 2.1% | 2025 | down 10.8% | falling |
| 67 | Algeria | 2.0% | 2025 | down 30.2% | falling |
| 68 | Eritrea | 2.0% | 2025 | up 916.6% | volatile |
| 69 | Gibraltar | 2.0% | 2025 | up 74.2% | volatile |
| 70 | Ireland | 2.0% | 2025 | up 80.2% | falling |
| 71 | Paraguay | 2.0% | 2025 | down 21.0% | falling |
| 72 | Uzbekistan | 1.9% | 2025 | up 50.1% | falling |
| 73 | Malta | 1.9% | 2025 | down 22.5% | volatile |
| 74 | Armenia | 1.9% | 2025 | up 1,143.6% | volatile |
| 75 | Indonesia | 1.9% | 2025 | down 21.8% | falling |
| 76 | Cayman Islands | 1.8% | 2025 | down 24.2% | falling |
| 77 | Bolivia | 1.8% | 2025 | down 11.5% | falling |
| 78 | Egypt | 1.8% | 2025 | down 6.3% | falling |
| 79 | Malaysia | 1.8% | 2025 | down 24.0% | falling |
| 80 | Tajikistan | 1.8% | 2025 | down 20.6% | volatile |
| 81 | India | 1.8% | 2025 | down 19.1% | falling |
| 82 | Cambodia | 1.7% | 2025 | down 81.1% | volatile |
| 83 | Kyrgyzstan | 1.7% | 2025 | down 18.2% | volatile |
| 84 | Kazakhstan | 1.7% | 2025 | down 31.2% | volatile |
| 85 | East Timor | 1.7% | 2025 | down 6.1% | volatile |
| 86 | Turkmenistan | 1.7% | 2025 | down 27.4% | falling |
| 87 | Australia | 1.7% | 2025 | up 3.0% | falling |
| 88 | Nicaragua | 1.6% | 2025 | down 4.4% | falling |
| 89 | Cape Verde | 1.6% | 2025 | down 5.3% | volatile |
| 90 | Maldives | 1.6% | 2025 | down 65.0% | volatile |
| 91 | Iceland | 1.6% | 2025 | up 34.1% | falling |
| 92 | Seychelles | 1.6% | 2025 | down 40.2% | volatile |
| 93 | Peru | 1.5% | 2025 | down 24.3% | falling |
| 94 | Mongolia | 1.5% | 2025 | down 29.3% | volatile |
| 95 | Luxembourg | 1.5% | 2025 | down 49.0% | rising |
| 96 | Vietnam | 1.5% | 2025 | down 42.7% | falling |
| 97 | Panama | 1.5% | 2025 | down 21.0% | falling |
| 98 | Morocco | 1.4% | 2025 | down 17.1% | falling |
| 99 | Thailand | 1.4% | 2025 | down 22.1% | falling |
| 100 | Djibouti | 1.4% | 2025 | down 26.4% | volatile |
| 101 | Philippines | 1.4% | 2025 | down 57.7% | falling |
| 102 | Iran | 1.4% | 2025 | down 33.3% | falling |
| 103 | Colombia | 1.3% | 2025 | up 43.3% | falling |
| 104 | South Africa | 1.3% | 2025 | down 36.9% | falling |
| 105 | Sint Maarten (Dutch part) | 1.3% | 2025 | down 39.1% | volatile |
| 106 | Portugal | 1.3% | 2025 | up 410.8% | volatile |
| 107 | Spain | 1.3% | 2025 | up 1,580.3% | volatile |
| 108 | Switzerland | 1.3% | 2025 | down 44.5% | falling |
| 109 | Fiji | 1.3% | 2025 | up 14.3% | volatile |
| 110 | Israel | 1.2% | 2025 | down 36.8% | falling |
| 111 | Andorra | 1.2% | 2025 | up 157.3% | volatile |
| 112 | New Caledonia | 1.2% | 2025 | up 64.5% | volatile |
| 113 | Liechtenstein | 1.2% | 2025 | up 53.6% | volatile |
| 114 | Singapore | 1.2% | 2025 | up 3.1% | volatile |
| 115 | Mexico | 1.2% | 2025 | down 12.2% | falling |
| 116 | Canada | 1.2% | 2025 | up 43.2% | falling |
| 117 | Ecuador | 1.1% | 2025 | down 26.7% | falling |
| 118 | Myanmar | 1.1% | 2025 | down 5.2% | falling |
| 119 | Libya | 1.1% | 2025 | down 22.6% | volatile |
| 120 | Tunisia | 1.1% | 2025 | down 18.9% | falling |
| 121 | Faroe Islands | 1.1% | 2025 | down 33.2% | volatile |
| 122 | El Salvador | 1.0% | 2025 | down 29.2% | falling |
| 123 | Lebanon | 1.0% | 2025 | down 53.1% | volatile |
| 124 | Norway | 1.0% | 2025 | down 44.6% | volatile |
| 125 | Costa Rica | 1.0% | 2025 | down 45.3% | falling |
| 126 | Dominican Republic | 1.0% | 2025 | down 11.1% | volatile |
| 127 | Belize | 0.9% | 2025 | down 38.7% | falling |
| 128 | Cyprus | 0.9% | 2025 | down 30.3% | volatile |
| 129 | Brunei | 0.9% | 2025 | down 19.8% | volatile |
| 130 | Turks and Caicos Islands | 0.9% | 2025 | down 80.0% | volatile |
| 131 | Suriname | 0.9% | 2025 | down 12.8% | volatile |
| 132 | Netherlands | 0.8% | 2025 | down 10.7% | falling |
| 133 | Finland | 0.8% | 2025 | up 5.9% | falling |
| 134 | North Korea | 0.8% | 2025 | down 8.6% | volatile |
| 135 | Croatia | 0.8% | 2025 | up 179.7% | volatile |
| 136 | Guam | 0.8% | 2025 | up 320.7% | volatile |
| 137 | Belgium | 0.8% | 2025 | down 10.2% | falling |
| 138 | Jamaica | 0.8% | 2025 | down 17.1% | volatile |
| 139 | Bahrain | 0.7% | 2025 | down 82.3% | volatile |
| 140 | New Zealand | 0.7% | 2025 | down 55.1% | volatile |
| 141 | Denmark | 0.7% | 2025 | down 6.6% | volatile |
| 142 | Brazil | 0.7% | 2025 | down 35.9% | volatile |
| 143 | Austria | 0.7% | 2025 | down 48.4% | volatile |
| 144 | Chile | 0.7% | 2025 | down 42.7% | falling |
| 145 | Aruba | 0.7% | 2025 | down 4.5% | volatile |
| 146 | Nauru | 0.7% | 2025 | down 66.7% | volatile |
| 147 | Guyana | 0.6% | 2025 | up 4.5% | volatile |
| 148 | Samoa | 0.6% | 2025 | up 31.7% | volatile |
| 149 | United States | 0.6% | 2025 | down 17.1% | falling |
| 150 | Turkey | 0.6% | 2025 | down 89.4% | falling |
| 151 | Slovenia | 0.6% | 2025 | down 88.7% | volatile |
| 152 | Micronesia (country) | 0.6% | 2025 | up 72.2% | volatile |
| 153 | Azerbaijan | 0.5% | 2025 | down 74.9% | volatile |
| 154 | China | 0.5% | 2025 | down 84.9% | volatile |
| 155 | Sweden | 0.5% | 2025 | down 65.8% | volatile |
| 156 | Saint Kitts and Nevis | 0.5% | 2025 | up 629.0% | volatile |
| 157 | Bahamas | 0.4% | 2025 | down 38.6% | volatile |
| 158 | Venezuela | 0.4% | 2025 | down 60.5% | volatile |
| 159 | Argentina | 0.4% | 2025 | down 63.2% | falling |
| 160 | San Marino | 0.4% | 2025 | down 43.1% | volatile |
| 161 | United Kingdom | 0.4% | 2025 | down 58.7% | volatile |
| 162 | Lithuania | 0.4% | 2025 | up 149.3% | volatile |
| 163 | Grenada | 0.4% | 2025 | down 32.6% | volatile |
| 164 | Greece | 0.4% | 2025 | up 195.0% | volatile |
| 165 | North Macedonia | 0.3% | 2025 | up 79.3% | volatile |
| 166 | Barbados | 0.3% | 2025 | up 36.3% | volatile |
| 167 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 0.3% | 2025 | up 184.8% | volatile |
| 168 | France | 0.3% | 2025 | down 65.7% | volatile |
| 169 | French Polynesia | 0.3% | 2025 | down 52.3% | volatile |
| 170 | Greenland | 0.3% | 2025 | up 158.5% | volatile |
| 171 | Curacao | 0.2% | 2025 | down 82.5% | volatile |
| 172 | Nepal | 0.2% | 2025 | down 80.0% | volatile |
| 173 | Antigua and Barbuda | 0.2% | 2025 | down 37.4% | volatile |
| 174 | Saint Lucia | 0.2% | 2025 | down 93.9% | volatile |
| 175 | Bulgaria | 0.2% | 2025 | up 114.0% | volatile |
| 176 | Germany | 0.1% | 2025 | down 89.0% | volatile |
| 177 | Dominica | 0.1% | 2025 | down 84.4% | volatile |
| 178 | Russia | 0.1% | 2025 | down 81.6% | volatile |
| 179 | Italy | 0.0% | 2025 | up 142.5% | volatile |
| 180 | Montenegro | 0.0% | 2025 | down 87.1% | volatile |
| 181 | Sri Lanka | 0.0% | 2025 | down 99.7% | volatile |
| 182 | Uruguay | 0.0% | 2025 | down 99.6% | volatile |
| 183 | Jordan | -0.0% | 2025 | down 100.0% | falling |
| 184 | Trinidad and Tobago | -0.0% | 2025 | down 108.0% | volatile |
| 185 | Czechia | -0.1% | 2025 | down 150.3% | volatile |
| 186 | Belarus | -0.1% | 2025 | down 116.6% | volatile |
| 187 | Palau | -0.1% | 2025 | up 28.0% | volatile |
| 188 | Isle of Man | -0.1% | 2025 | up 68.5% | volatile |
| 189 | Mauritius | -0.1% | 2025 | up 32.7% | volatile |
| 190 | South Korea | -0.1% | 2025 | down 129.3% | volatile |
| 191 | Bermuda | -0.1% | 2025 | down 22.5% | volatile |
| 192 | Poland | -0.1% | 2025 | up 35.7% | volatile |
| 193 | Slovakia | -0.1% | 2025 | up 1.8% | volatile |
| 194 | Romania | -0.2% | 2025 | up 77.6% | volatile |
| 195 | Macao | -0.2% | 2025 | down 104.8% | volatile |
| 196 | Serbia | -0.2% | 2025 | down 108.4% | volatile |
| 197 | Hungary | -0.2% | 2025 | down 101.1% | volatile |
| 198 | Cuba | -0.3% | 2025 | down 407.8% | volatile |
| 199 | Hong Kong | -0.3% | 2025 | down 139.4% | volatile |
| 200 | Japan | -0.4% | 2025 | down 23,213.1% | volatile |
| 201 | Tonga | -0.4% | 2025 | up 57.1% | volatile |
| 202 | Estonia | -0.4% | 2025 | down 205.1% | volatile |
| 203 | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | -0.4% | 2025 | down 56.1% | volatile |
| 204 | Puerto Rico | -0.5% | 2025 | up 66.6% | volatile |
| 205 | Tuvalu | -0.5% | 2025 | down 158.2% | volatile |
| 206 | United States Virgin Islands | -0.5% | 2025 | down 440.3% | volatile |
| 207 | Albania | -0.6% | 2025 | up 20.4% | volatile |
| 208 | Kuwait | -0.7% | 2025 | down 114.6% | volatile |
| 209 | Monaco | -0.8% | 2025 | down 143.7% | volatile |
| 210 | Latvia | -0.8% | 2025 | up 0.9% | volatile |
| 211 | Moldova | -1.3% | 2025 | down 108.8% | volatile |
| 212 | Northern Mariana Islands | -1.6% | 2025 | down 30.6% | volatile |
| 213 | American Samoa | -2.1% | 2025 | down 38.0% | volatile |
| 214 | Marshall Islands | -3.0% | 2025 | down 97.1% | volatile |
| 215 | Saint Martin (French part) | -4.7% | 2025 | down 2,049.1% | volatile |
Regions and income groups
Aggregates are excluded from the country ranking above so that a region can never outrank a country.
- Low income 3.9%
- Heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC) 3.8%
- Africa Eastern and Southern 3.7%
- Pre-demographic dividend 3.6%
- Least developed countries: UN classification 3.6%
- Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) 3.6%
- Sub-Saharan Africa 3.6%
- Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) 3.6%
- IDA only 3.4%
- Africa Western and Central 3.4%
- IDA total 3.2%
- IDA blend 2.9%
About this data
Annual urban population growth rate for year t is the exponential rate of growth of midyear urban population from year t-1 to t, expressed as a percentage. Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated using World Bank total population estimates and urban ratios from the United Nations World Urbanization Prospects.