Urban population, per square kilometre in South Asia
South Asia: Urban population, per square kilometre was 174.55 units per square kilometre in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Urban population, per square kilometre in South Asia, 1961–2023
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in units per square kilometre.
Analysis
South Asia 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.
Compared with earlier readings it 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 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 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, year by year
| 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
- 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
More climate change data for South Asia
- 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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is urban population, per square kilometre in South Asia?
- Urban population, per square kilometre in South Asia 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?
- 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?
- The lowest recorded value was 25.47 units per square kilometre in 1961.
- How does South Asia rank for urban population, per square kilometre?
- South Asia ranks 1st out of 47 groups with data for 2023.
- Is urban population, per square kilometre rising or falling in South Asia?
- 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 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.