Urban population (% of total population) in Least developed countries
Least developed countries: Urban population (% of total population) was 36.6% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Urban population in Least developed countries, 1960–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN). Measured in % of total population.
Analysis
In 2025, urban population in Least developed countries stood at 36.6%. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.3% on the previous year and up 14.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban population in Least developed countries peaked at 36.6% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 9.4%, in 1960.
Least developed countries ranks 44th of 47 groups on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 66 years of available data.
Urban population (% of total population) in Least developed countries, year by year
| Year | % of total population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 9.4% | — |
| 1961 | 9.6% | +2.6% |
| 1962 | 9.9% | +2.7% |
| 1963 | 10.1% | +2.7% |
| 1964 | 10.4% | +2.8% |
| 1965 | 10.7% | +2.9% |
| 1966 | 11.0% | +2.9% |
| 1967 | 11.3% | +2.9% |
| 1968 | 11.7% | +3.1% |
| 1969 | 12.1% | +3.4% |
| 1970 | 12.5% | +3.6% |
| 1971 | 13.0% | +3.9% |
| 1972 | 13.6% | +4.1% |
| 1973 | 14.0% | +3.6% |
| 1974 | 14.2% | +1.1% |
| 1975 | 14.4% | +1.6% |
| 1976 | 15.0% | +3.9% |
| 1977 | 15.6% | +3.9% |
| 1978 | 16.1% | +3.8% |
| 1979 | 16.7% | +3.7% |
| 1980 | 17.3% | +3.3% |
| 1981 | 17.7% | +2.5% |
| 1982 | 18.2% | +2.3% |
| 1983 | 18.6% | +2.3% |
| 1984 | 19.0% | +2.3% |
| 1985 | 19.4% | +2.3% |
| 1986 | 19.8% | +2.2% |
| 1987 | 20.3% | +2.3% |
| 1988 | 20.7% | +2.1% |
| 1989 | 21.2% | +2.1% |
| 1990 | 21.6% | +2.0% |
| 1991 | 22.0% | +2.0% |
| 1992 | 22.4% | +1.6% |
| 1993 | 22.7% | +1.5% |
| 1994 | 23.1% | +1.7% |
| 1995 | 23.5% | +1.6% |
| 1996 | 23.8% | +1.4% |
| 1997 | 24.2% | +1.4% |
| 1998 | 24.5% | +1.5% |
| 1999 | 24.9% | +1.5% |
| 2000 | 25.3% | +1.6% |
| 2001 | 25.7% | +1.6% |
| 2002 | 26.1% | +1.6% |
| 2003 | 26.6% | +1.7% |
| 2004 | 27.0% | +1.8% |
| 2005 | 27.5% | +1.8% |
| 2006 | 28.0% | +1.8% |
| 2007 | 28.5% | +1.6% |
| 2008 | 29.0% | +1.9% |
| 2009 | 29.5% | +1.7% |
| 2010 | 29.9% | +1.6% |
| 2011 | 30.4% | +1.4% |
| 2012 | 30.8% | +1.4% |
| 2013 | 31.2% | +1.4% |
| 2014 | 31.6% | +1.4% |
| 2015 | 32.1% | +1.4% |
| 2016 | 32.6% | +1.4% |
| 2017 | 33.0% | +1.5% |
| 2018 | 33.5% | +1.4% |
| 2019 | 34.0% | +1.3% |
| 2020 | 34.4% | +1.3% |
| 2021 | 34.8% | +1.3% |
| 2022 | 35.3% | +1.3% |
| 2023 | 35.7% | +1.2% |
| 2024 | 36.2% | +1.3% |
| 2025 | 36.6% | +1.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 10.6% | 9.4% | 12.1% | 10 |
| 1970s | 14.5% | 12.5% | 16.7% | 10 |
| 1980s | 19.2% | 17.3% | 21.2% | 10 |
| 1990s | 23.3% | 21.6% | 24.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 27.3% | 25.3% | 29.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 31.9% | 29.9% | 34.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 35.5% | 34.4% | 36.6% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Least developed countries
- 41 Australia 87.7% compare
- 42 Belgium 87.7% compare
- 43 Palestine 87.4% compare
- 44 United Arab Emirates 86.0% compare
- 45 Switzerland 85.7% compare
- 46 Peru 85.6% compare
- 47 Saudi Arabia 84.6% compare
More climate change data for Least developed countries
- 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 444.81 million (2025)
- Urban population, per capita 0.3664 units per person (2025)
- Urban population, per unit of GDP 0.0003 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population, total, per square kilometre 56.96 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Urban population, per square kilometre 20.33 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million 13.7% (2025)
- Annual freshwater withdrawals, total 198.48 billion cubic meters (2022)
Frequently asked questions
- What is urban population in Least developed countries?
- Urban population in Least developed countries was 36.6% in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest urban population recorded in Least developed countries?
- The highest recorded value was 36.6% in 2025.
- What is the lowest urban population recorded in Least developed countries?
- The lowest recorded value was 9.4% in 1960.
- How does Least developed countries rank for urban population?
- Least developed countries ranks 44th out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is urban population rising or falling in Least developed countries?
- Over the last ten years it is up 14.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Least developed countries data come from?
- The figures come from World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN), published as part of Urban population (% of total population). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. The data are collected and smoothed by United Nations Population Division.