Urban population, per square kilometre in Least developed countries
Least developed countries: Urban population, per square kilometre was 20.33 units per square kilometre in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Urban population, per square kilometre in Least developed countries, 1961–2023
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in units per square kilometre.
Analysis
In 2023, urban population, per square kilometre in Least developed countries stood at 20.33 units per square kilometre. That is the highest value across all 63 years on record.
That represents a change of up 3.6% on the previous year and up 44.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban population, per square kilometre in Least developed countries peaked at 20.33 units per square kilometre in 2023 and was at its lowest, 1.45 units per square kilometre, in 1961.
That places Least developed countries 39th out of 47 groups with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Urban population, per square kilometre in Least developed countries, year by year
| Year | units per square kilometre | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 1.45 units per square kilometre | — |
| 1962 | 1.53 units per square kilometre | +5.2% |
| 1963 | 1.61 units per square kilometre | +5.3% |
| 1964 | 1.69 units per square kilometre | +5.4% |
| 1965 | 1.79 units per square kilometre | +5.5% |
| 1966 | 1.89 units per square kilometre | +5.5% |
| 1967 | 1.99 units per square kilometre | +5.6% |
| 1968 | 2.11 units per square kilometre | +5.8% |
| 1969 | 2.24 units per square kilometre | +6.2% |
| 1970 | 2.38 units per square kilometre | +6.2% |
| 1971 | 2.53 units per square kilometre | +6.3% |
| 1972 | 2.69 units per square kilometre | +6.6% |
| 1973 | 2.86 units per square kilometre | +6.3% |
| 1974 | 2.97 units per square kilometre | +3.8% |
| 1975 | 3.1 units per square kilometre | +4.1% |
| 1976 | 3.3 units per square kilometre | +6.4% |
| 1977 | 3.51 units per square kilometre | +6.4% |
| 1978 | 3.73 units per square kilometre | +6.4% |
| 1979 | 3.97 units per square kilometre | +6.5% |
| 1980 | 4.2 units per square kilometre | +5.8% |
| 1981 | 4.4 units per square kilometre | +4.8% |
| 1982 | 4.62 units per square kilometre | +4.9% |
| 1983 | 4.85 units per square kilometre | +5.1% |
| 1984 | 5.1 units per square kilometre | +5.0% |
| 1985 | 5.35 units per square kilometre | +5.0% |
| 1986 | 5.61 units per square kilometre | +4.9% |
| 1987 | 5.89 units per square kilometre | +5.0% |
| 1988 | 6.17 units per square kilometre | +4.7% |
| 1989 | 6.46 units per square kilometre | +4.7% |
| 1990 | 6.75 units per square kilometre | +4.5% |
| 1991 | 7.06 units per square kilometre | +4.6% |
| 1992 | 7.37 units per square kilometre | +4.4% |
| 1993 | 7.22 units per square kilometre | -2.1% |
| 1994 | 7.54 units per square kilometre | +4.5% |
| 1995 | 7.87 units per square kilometre | +4.4% |
| 1996 | 8.19 units per square kilometre | +4.1% |
| 1997 | 8.52 units per square kilometre | +4.1% |
| 1998 | 8.88 units per square kilometre | +4.1% |
| 1999 | 9.24 units per square kilometre | +4.1% |
| 2000 | 9.62 units per square kilometre | +4.0% |
| 2001 | 10.01 units per square kilometre | +4.1% |
| 2002 | 10.43 units per square kilometre | +4.2% |
| 2003 | 10.87 units per square kilometre | +4.3% |
| 2004 | 11.23 units per square kilometre | +3.4% |
| 2005 | 11.71 units per square kilometre | +4.2% |
| 2006 | 12.21 units per square kilometre | +4.3% |
| 2007 | 12.7 units per square kilometre | +4.0% |
| 2008 | 13.24 units per square kilometre | +4.3% |
| 2009 | 13.78 units per square kilometre | +4.1% |
| 2010 | 14.33 units per square kilometre | +3.9% |
| 2011 | 14.88 units per square kilometre | +3.8% |
| 2012 | 13.54 units per square kilometre | -9.0% |
| 2013 | 14.06 units per square kilometre | +3.8% |
| 2014 | 14.61 units per square kilometre | +3.9% |
| 2015 | 15.17 units per square kilometre | +3.8% |
| 2016 | 15.75 units per square kilometre | +3.8% |
| 2017 | 16.36 units per square kilometre | +3.9% |
| 2018 | 16.99 units per square kilometre | +3.9% |
| 2019 | 17.63 units per square kilometre | +3.8% |
| 2020 | 18.28 units per square kilometre | +3.7% |
| 2021 | 18.95 units per square kilometre | +3.6% |
| 2022 | 19.63 units per square kilometre | +3.6% |
| 2023 | 20.33 units per square kilometre | +3.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 1.81 units per square kilometre | 1.45 units per square kilometre | 2.24 units per square kilometre | 9 |
| 1970s | 3.1 units per square kilometre | 2.38 units per square kilometre | 3.97 units per square kilometre | 10 |
| 1980s | 5.26 units per square kilometre | 4.2 units per square kilometre | 6.46 units per square kilometre | 10 |
| 1990s | 7.86 units per square kilometre | 6.75 units per square kilometre | 9.24 units per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2000s | 11.58 units per square kilometre | 9.62 units per square kilometre | 13.78 units per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2010s | 15.33 units per square kilometre | 13.54 units per square kilometre | 17.63 units per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2020s | 19.3 units per square kilometre | 18.28 units per square kilometre | 20.33 units per square kilometre | 4 |
Countries ranked near Least developed countries
- 36 El Salvador 227.19 units per square kilometre compare
- 37 Philippines 212.41 units per square kilometre compare
- 38 Tuvalu 209.43 units per square kilometre compare
- 39 Germany 195.22 units per square kilometre compare
- 40 American Samoa 193.34 units per square kilometre compare
- 41 Switzerland 191.65 units per square kilometre compare
- 42 Dominican Republic 170.11 units per square kilometre compare
More climate change data for Least developed countries
- Urban population growth 3.6% (2025)
- Population, total, annual growth rate 2.32 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population, total, per unit of GDP 0.0007 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Urban population, annual growth rate 3.67 % change on previous year (2025)
- Urban population, per unit of GDP 0.0003 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Urban population, per capita 0.3664 units per person (2025)
- Urban population 36.6% (2025)
- Urban population 444.81 million (2025)
- Population, total 1.21 billion (2025)
- Population growth 2.3% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is urban population, per square kilometre in Least developed countries?
- Urban population, per square kilometre in Least developed countries was 20.33 units per square kilometre in 2023, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest urban population, per square kilometre recorded in Least developed countries?
- The highest recorded value was 20.33 units per square kilometre in 2023.
- What is the lowest urban population, per square kilometre recorded in Least developed countries?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.45 units per square kilometre in 1961.
- How does Least developed countries rank for urban population, per square kilometre?
- Least developed countries ranks 39th out of 47 groups with data for 2023.
- Is urban population, per square kilometre rising or falling in Least developed countries?
- Over the last ten years it is up 44.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Least developed countries data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Urban population, per square kilometre. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 63 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
Urban population divided by Land area (sq. km), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.
Urban population ÷ Land area (sq. km)
Computed from
- Urban population World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN)
- Land area FAOSTAT, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
Urban population divided by Land area (sq. km), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.