Urban population growth in East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD countries)
East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD countries): Urban population growth was 0.8% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Urban population growth in East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD countries), 1961–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN). Measured in annual %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for urban population growth in East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD countries) is 0.8%, measured in 2025.
The figure is up 6.2% on the previous year and down 73.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban population growth in East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD countries) peaked at 9.0% in 1964 and was at its lowest, -6.4%, in 1962.
That places East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD countries) 34th out of 47 groups with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Urban population growth in East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD countries), year by year
| Year | annual % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | -1.6% | — |
| 1962 | -6.4% | +310.9% |
| 1963 | 0.8% | -112.8% |
| 1964 | 9.0% | +989.4% |
| 1965 | 1.5% | -82.7% |
| 1966 | 2.7% | +71.3% |
| 1967 | 2.6% | -3.7% |
| 1968 | 2.6% | +1.7% |
| 1969 | 2.7% | +3.9% |
| 1970 | 2.7% | -1.8% |
| 1971 | 2.7% | +0.4% |
| 1972 | 2.5% | -6.3% |
| 1973 | 3.1% | +24.7% |
| 1974 | 2.0% | -35.7% |
| 1975 | 2.7% | +36.6% |
| 1976 | 2.7% | -2.5% |
| 1977 | 2.5% | -5.8% |
| 1978 | 3.5% | +41.1% |
| 1979 | 6.2% | +74.2% |
| 1980 | 3.7% | -39.8% |
| 1981 | 4.8% | +29.6% |
| 1982 | 3.7% | -23.7% |
| 1983 | 5.8% | +57.8% |
| 1984 | 6.6% | +13.7% |
| 1985 | 4.3% | -34.7% |
| 1986 | 4.7% | +8.6% |
| 1987 | 4.6% | -1.4% |
| 1988 | 3.7% | -19.3% |
| 1989 | 3.3% | -9.8% |
| 1990 | 2.2% | -34.4% |
| 1991 | 4.2% | +90.8% |
| 1992 | 3.5% | -15.9% |
| 1993 | 3.5% | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 3.5% | -1.2% |
| 1995 | 3.5% | -0.5% |
| 1996 | 5.5% | +58.5% |
| 1997 | 5.3% | -4.1% |
| 1998 | 5.1% | -4.2% |
| 1999 | 4.7% | -6.1% |
| 2000 | 4.9% | +3.6% |
| 2001 | 3.9% | -20.8% |
| 2002 | 4.1% | +5.7% |
| 2003 | 4.0% | -3.3% |
| 2004 | 3.5% | -12.5% |
| 2005 | 3.4% | -2.6% |
| 2006 | 3.5% | +3.1% |
| 2007 | 3.7% | +5.7% |
| 2008 | 2.9% | -20.5% |
| 2009 | 3.3% | +11.1% |
| 2010 | 2.5% | -23.1% |
| 2011 | 4.9% | +94.2% |
| 2012 | 3.0% | -37.9% |
| 2013 | 3.1% | +2.8% |
| 2014 | 2.8% | -8.7% |
| 2015 | 3.1% | +10.8% |
| 2016 | 3.0% | -5.1% |
| 2017 | 2.8% | -4.9% |
| 2018 | 2.7% | -3.2% |
| 2019 | 2.3% | -16.3% |
| 2020 | 1.7% | -27.1% |
| 2021 | 2.0% | +17.6% |
| 2022 | 1.1% | -45.5% |
| 2023 | 0.8% | -26.6% |
| 2024 | 0.8% | +0.8% |
| 2025 | 0.8% | +6.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 1.5% | -6.4% | 9.0% | 9 |
| 1970s | 3.1% | 2.0% | 6.2% | 10 |
| 1980s | 4.5% | 3.3% | 6.6% | 10 |
| 1990s | 4.1% | 2.2% | 5.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.7% | 2.9% | 4.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.0% | 2.3% | 4.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.2% | 0.8% | 2.0% | 6 |
Countries ranked near East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD countries)
- 31 Côte d'Ivoire 3.5% compare
- 32 South Sudan 3.5% compare
- 33 Zimbabwe 3.4% compare
- 34 Lesotho 3.3% compare
- 35 Georgia 3.3% compare
- 36 Nigeria 3.3% compare
- 37 Guinea-Bissau 3.3% compare
More climate change data for East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD countries)
- Population growth 0.1% (2025)
- Population, total 2.12 billion (2025)
- Urban population 1.31 billion (2025)
- Urban population 62.0% (2025)
- Annual freshwater withdrawals, total 1,073 billion cubic meters (2022)
- Annual freshwater withdrawals, total 12.4% (2022)
- Terrestrial protected areas 15.0% (2025)
- Terrestrial and marine protected areas 8.6% (2025)
- Marine protected areas 4.8% (2025)
- CPIA public sector management and institutions cluster average 2.98 1=low to 6=high (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is urban population growth in East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- Urban population growth in East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD countries) was 0.8% in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest urban population growth recorded in East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- The highest recorded value was 9.0% in 1964.
- What is the lowest urban population growth recorded in East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- The lowest recorded value was -6.4% in 1962.
- How does East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD countries) rank for urban population growth?
- East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD countries) ranks 34th out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is urban population growth rising or falling in East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- Over the last ten years it is down 73.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD countries) data come from?
- The figures come from World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN), published as part of Urban population growth (annual %). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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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.