Urban population growth in Pacific island small states
Pacific island small states: Urban population growth was 2.0% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Urban population growth in Pacific island small states, 1961–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN). Measured in annual %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for urban population growth in Pacific island small states is 2.0%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of down 1.0% on the previous year and down 0.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban population growth in Pacific island small states peaked at 7.7% in 1961 and was at its lowest, 1.5%, in 2020.
Pacific island small states ranks 18th of 45 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 65 years of available data.
Urban population growth in Pacific island small states, year by year
| Year | annual % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 7.7% | — |
| 1962 | 7.3% | -5.1% |
| 1963 | 6.9% | -5.9% |
| 1964 | 6.4% | -7.6% |
| 1965 | 5.9% | -7.9% |
| 1966 | 5.2% | -12.1% |
| 1967 | 4.4% | -14.1% |
| 1968 | 4.2% | -5.6% |
| 1969 | 4.1% | -2.5% |
| 1970 | 3.8% | -6.9% |
| 1971 | 3.4% | -9.7% |
| 1972 | 3.1% | -9.1% |
| 1973 | 2.8% | -8.8% |
| 1974 | 2.7% | -4.9% |
| 1975 | 2.8% | +3.0% |
| 1976 | 2.9% | +3.8% |
| 1977 | 3.0% | +2.8% |
| 1978 | 2.9% | -1.5% |
| 1979 | 2.9% | -2.4% |
| 1980 | 2.8% | -0.7% |
| 1981 | 2.9% | +1.8% |
| 1982 | 2.9% | +1.5% |
| 1983 | 2.9% | -0.9% |
| 1984 | 2.9% | +0.7% |
| 1985 | 3.0% | +1.6% |
| 1986 | 2.9% | -2.2% |
| 1987 | 2.8% | -5.0% |
| 1988 | 2.8% | +0.6% |
| 1989 | 2.8% | +2.7% |
| 1990 | 2.9% | +1.0% |
| 1991 | 2.8% | -1.1% |
| 1992 | 2.8% | -2.8% |
| 1993 | 2.6% | -4.5% |
| 1994 | 2.5% | -7.1% |
| 1995 | 2.2% | -10.4% |
| 1996 | 2.0% | -7.8% |
| 1997 | 2.2% | +7.3% |
| 1998 | 2.3% | +4.5% |
| 1999 | 2.2% | -3.5% |
| 2000 | 2.1% | -5.0% |
| 2001 | 2.0% | -6.3% |
| 2002 | 1.9% | -2.3% |
| 2003 | 1.8% | -3.0% |
| 2004 | 1.8% | -1.6% |
| 2005 | 1.8% | -1.6% |
| 2006 | 1.8% | +1.4% |
| 2007 | 1.9% | +6.0% |
| 2008 | 1.9% | -0.7% |
| 2009 | 1.9% | -2.4% |
| 2010 | 2.0% | +6.3% |
| 2011 | 1.9% | -2.9% |
| 2012 | 1.9% | -1.8% |
| 2013 | 1.9% | +0.8% |
| 2014 | 1.9% | +2.0% |
| 2015 | 2.0% | +2.2% |
| 2016 | 2.0% | +2.5% |
| 2017 | 2.1% | +0.8% |
| 2018 | 1.9% | -9.6% |
| 2019 | 1.7% | -11.0% |
| 2020 | 1.5% | -9.2% |
| 2021 | 1.7% | +11.7% |
| 2022 | 1.9% | +11.9% |
| 2023 | 2.0% | +7.6% |
| 2024 | 2.0% | -0.8% |
| 2025 | 2.0% | -1.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 5.8% | 4.1% | 7.7% | 9 |
| 1970s | 3.0% | 2.7% | 3.8% | 10 |
| 1980s | 2.9% | 2.8% | 3.0% | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.4% | 2.0% | 2.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.9% | 1.8% | 2.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.9% | 1.7% | 2.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.8% | 1.5% | 2.0% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Pacific island small states
- 15 Somalia 4.3% compare
- 16 Burkina Faso 4.3% compare
- 17 Mauritania 4.2% compare
- 18 Papua New Guinea 4.1% compare
- 19 Angola 4.1% compare
- 20 Democratic Republic of Congo 4.0% compare
- 21 Oman 4.0% compare
More climate change data for Pacific island small states
- Population growth 1.2% (2025)
- Population, total 2.76 million (2025)
- Urban population 1.13 million (2025)
- Urban population 40.9% (2025)
- Terrestrial protected areas 4.2% (2025)
- Terrestrial and marine protected areas 7.1% (2025)
- Marine protected areas 7.1% (2025)
- CPIA public sector management and institutions cluster average 3.2 1=low to 6=high (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is urban population growth in Pacific island small states?
- Urban population growth in Pacific island small states was 2.0% in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest urban population growth recorded in Pacific island small states?
- The highest recorded value was 7.7% in 1961.
- What is the lowest urban population growth recorded in Pacific island small states?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.5% in 2020.
- How does Pacific island small states rank for urban population growth?
- Pacific island small states ranks 18th out of 45 groups with data for 2025.
- Is urban population growth rising or falling in Pacific island small states?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Pacific island small states 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.
Download this data
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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.