What is the highest urban population, per square kilometre recorded in South Asia (IDA & IBRD)?

The highest recorded value was 174.55 units per square kilometre in 2023.

What is the lowest urban population, per square kilometre recorded in South Asia (IDA & IBRD)?

The lowest recorded value was 25.47 units per square kilometre in 1961.

How does South Asia (IDA & IBRD) rank for urban population, per square kilometre?

South Asia (IDA & IBRD) ranks 1st out of 47 groups with data for 2023.

Is urban population, per square kilometre rising or falling in South Asia (IDA & IBRD)?

Over the last ten years it is up 21.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.

Where does this South Asia (IDA & IBRD) 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.

Urban population, per square kilometre in South Asia (IDA & IBRD)

Name: Urban population, per square kilometre in South Asia (IDA & IBRD)
Creator: Statizoid (derived)
License: Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page

South Asia (IDA & IBRD): Urban population, per square kilometre was 174.55 units per square kilometre in 2023. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2023)

174.55 units per square kilometre

Change on year

up 1.8%

Rank

1st

of 47 groups

All-time high

174.55 units per square kilometre

in 2023

All-time low

25.47 units per square kilometre

in 1961

Years of data

1961–2023

Urban population, per square kilometre in South Asia (IDA & IBRD), 1961–2023

Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in units per square kilometre.

Analysis

South Asia (IDA & IBRD) recorded 174.55 units per square kilometre for urban population, per square kilometre in 2023. That is the highest value across all 63 years on record.

The figure is up 1.8% on the previous year and up 21.6% over ten years.

Over the whole period, urban population, per square kilometre in South Asia (IDA & IBRD) peaked at 174.55 units per square kilometre in 2023 and was at its lowest, 25.47 units per square kilometre, in 1961.

That places South Asia (IDA & IBRD) 1st out of 47 groups with data for 2023, putting it in the top 10%.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Urban population, per square kilometre in South Asia (IDA & IBRD), year by year

Annual values for Urban population, per square kilometre in South Asia (IDA & IBRD), 1961 to 2023.
Year	units per square kilometre	Change
1961	25.47 units per square kilometre	—
1962	26.29 units per square kilometre	+3.2%
1963	27.16 units per square kilometre	+3.3%
1964	28.09 units per square kilometre	+3.4%
1965	29.05 units per square kilometre	+3.4%
1966	30.04 units per square kilometre	+3.4%
1967	31.08 units per square kilometre	+3.5%
1968	32.19 units per square kilometre	+3.5%
1969	33.33 units per square kilometre	+3.6%
1970	34.56 units per square kilometre	+3.7%
1971	35.83 units per square kilometre	+3.7%
1972	37.23 units per square kilometre	+3.9%
1973	38.83 units per square kilometre	+4.3%
1974	40.61 units per square kilometre	+4.6%
1975	42.58 units per square kilometre	+4.8%
1976	44.69 units per square kilometre	+5.0%
1977	46.92 units per square kilometre	+5.0%
1978	49.17 units per square kilometre	+4.8%
1979	51.43 units per square kilometre	+4.6%
1980	53.66 units per square kilometre	+4.3%
1981	55.75 units per square kilometre	+3.9%
1982	57.79 units per square kilometre	+3.7%
1983	59.83 units per square kilometre	+3.5%
1984	61.87 units per square kilometre	+3.4%
1985	63.92 units per square kilometre	+3.3%
1986	66 units per square kilometre	+3.2%
1987	68.09 units per square kilometre	+3.2%
1988	70.21 units per square kilometre	+3.1%
1989	72.38 units per square kilometre	+3.1%
1990	74.61 units per square kilometre	+3.1%
1991	76.91 units per square kilometre	+3.1%
1992	79.25 units per square kilometre	+3.0%
1993	81.61 units per square kilometre	+3.0%
1994	84.16 units per square kilometre	+3.1%
1995	86.59 units per square kilometre	+2.9%
1996	89.09 units per square kilometre	+2.9%
1997	91.66 units per square kilometre	+2.9%
1998	94.31 units per square kilometre	+2.9%
1999	97.05 units per square kilometre	+2.9%
2000	99.88 units per square kilometre	+2.9%
2001	102.84 units per square kilometre	+3.0%
2002	105.92 units per square kilometre	+3.0%
2003	109.12 units per square kilometre	+3.0%
2004	112.52 units per square kilometre	+3.1%
2005	115.94 units per square kilometre	+3.0%
2006	119.42 units per square kilometre	+3.0%
2007	122.94 units per square kilometre	+2.9%
2008	126.45 units per square kilometre	+2.9%
2009	130.03 units per square kilometre	+2.8%
2010	133.64 units per square kilometre	+2.8%
2011	137.13 units per square kilometre	+2.6%
2012	140.35 units per square kilometre	+2.4%
2013	143.54 units per square kilometre	+2.3%
2014	146.72 units per square kilometre	+2.2%
2015	149.91 units per square kilometre	+2.2%
2016	153.11 units per square kilometre	+2.1%
2017	156.28 units per square kilometre	+2.1%
2018	159.41 units per square kilometre	+2.0%
2019	162.54 units per square kilometre	+2.0%
2020	165.64 units per square kilometre	+1.9%
2021	168.55 units per square kilometre	+1.8%
2022	171.41 units per square kilometre	+1.7%
2023	174.55 units per square kilometre	+1.8%

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1960s	29.19 units per square kilometre	25.47 units per square kilometre	33.33 units per square kilometre	9
1970s	42.19 units per square kilometre	34.56 units per square kilometre	51.43 units per square kilometre	10
1980s	62.95 units per square kilometre	53.66 units per square kilometre	72.38 units per square kilometre	10
1990s	85.52 units per square kilometre	74.61 units per square kilometre	97.05 units per square kilometre	10
2000s	114.51 units per square kilometre	99.88 units per square kilometre	130.03 units per square kilometre	10
2010s	148.26 units per square kilometre	133.64 units per square kilometre	162.54 units per square kilometre	10
2020s	170.04 units per square kilometre	165.64 units per square kilometre	174.55 units per square kilometre	4

Countries ranked near South Asia (IDA & IBRD)

1 Macau, China 20,570 units per square kilometre compare
2 Monaco 18,693 units per square kilometre compare
3 Singapore 8,242 units per square kilometre compare
4 Hong Kong, China 7,177 units per square kilometre compare

See the full ranking of 264 places →

More climate change data for South Asia (IDA & IBRD)

Urban population growth 1.8% (2025)
Population, total, annual growth rate 0.8865 % change on previous year (2025)
Population, total, per unit of GDP 0.0004 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Urban population, annual growth rate 1.82 % change on previous year (2025)
Urban population, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Urban population, per capita 0.3579 units per person (2025)
Urban population 35.8% (2025)
Urban population 605.70 million (2025)
Population, total 1.69 billion (2025)
Population growth 0.9% (2025)

All data for South Asia (IDA & IBRD) →

Frequently asked questions

What is urban population, per square kilometre in South Asia (IDA & IBRD)?: Urban population, per square kilometre in South Asia (IDA & IBRD) was 174.55 units per square kilometre in 2023, according to Statizoid (derived).
What is the highest urban population, per square kilometre recorded in South Asia (IDA & IBRD)?: The highest recorded value was 174.55 units per square kilometre in 2023.
What is the lowest urban population, per square kilometre recorded in South Asia (IDA & IBRD)?: The lowest recorded value was 25.47 units per square kilometre in 1961.
How does South Asia (IDA & IBRD) rank for urban population, per square kilometre?: South Asia (IDA & IBRD) ranks 1st out of 47 groups with data for 2023.
Is urban population, per square kilometre rising or falling in South Asia (IDA & IBRD)?: Over the last ten years it is up 21.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this South Asia (IDA & IBRD) 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.

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Urban population, per square kilometre in South Asia (IDA & IBRD). Statizoid, drawing on Statizoid (derived). Retrieved 14 September 2026, from https://climate.statizoid.com/stat/urban-population-per-square-kilometre/south-asia-ida-and-ibrd/

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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

Indicator: Urban population, per square kilometre
Unit: units per square kilometre
Source: Statizoid (derived)
Licence: Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page
Coverage: 264 places, 15,342 data points, 1961–2023
Last refreshed: 14 September 2026

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.