Saudi Arabia vs South Asia: Urban population (% of total population)
Saudi Arabia
84.6%
in 2025
South Asia
35.8%
in 2025
Saudi Arabia rank
47th
South Asia rank
45th
Urban population (% of total population) over time
- Saudi Arabia
- South Asia
How they compare
Saudi Arabia currently reports 84.6% against 35.8% in South Asia, a difference of 48.8%.
That makes Saudi Arabia's figure about 2.4 times South Asia's.
Across all 66 years both countries report, Saudi Arabia has been ahead every year.
Saudi Arabia ranks 47th and South Asia ranks 45th of 218 countries.
Saudi Arabia has averaged higher in every one of the 7 decades both report.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | Saudi Arabia | South Asia | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 38.6% | 17.0% | 21.6% | Saudi Arabia |
| 1970s | 57.4% | 19.8% | 37.5% | Saudi Arabia |
| 1980s | 72.0% | 23.5% | 48.5% | Saudi Arabia |
| 1990s | 78.6% | 25.7% | 52.9% | Saudi Arabia |
| 2000s | 80.9% | 28.7% | 52.2% | Saudi Arabia |
| 2010s | 82.9% | 32.5% | 50.4% | Saudi Arabia |
| 2020s | 84.2% | 35.0% | 49.2% | Saudi Arabia |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher urban population, Saudi Arabia or South Asia?
- Saudi Arabia, at 84.6% against 35.8% in South Asia as of 2025.
- What is the difference in urban population between Saudi Arabia and South Asia?
- 48.8%, with Saudi Arabia ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for Saudi Arabia and South Asia?
- 66 years are reported by both, from 1960 to 2025.
- How do Saudi Arabia and South Asia rank globally for urban population?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 47th and South Asia ranks 45th of 218 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN), published as Urban population (% of total population). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.
Individual pages
About this data
Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. The data are collected and smoothed by United Nations Population Division.