Urban population in Arab World
Arab World: Urban population was 302.20 million in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Urban population in Arab World, 1960–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
Analysis
In 2025, urban population in Arab World stood at 302.20 million. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
That represents a change of up 2.6% on the previous year and up 26.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban population in Arab World peaked at 302.20 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 28.33 million, in 1960.
That places Arab World 38th out of 47 groups with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Urban population in Arab World, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 28.33 million | — |
| 1961 | 29.78 million | +5.1% |
| 1962 | 31.35 million | +5.3% |
| 1963 | 33.00 million | +5.3% |
| 1964 | 34.69 million | +5.1% |
| 1965 | 36.39 million | +4.9% |
| 1966 | 38.12 million | +4.7% |
| 1967 | 39.93 million | +4.8% |
| 1968 | 41.85 million | +4.8% |
| 1969 | 43.87 million | +4.8% |
| 1970 | 45.96 million | +4.8% |
| 1971 | 48.09 million | +4.6% |
| 1972 | 50.32 million | +4.6% |
| 1973 | 52.60 million | +4.5% |
| 1974 | 54.94 million | +4.5% |
| 1975 | 57.40 million | +4.5% |
| 1976 | 60.01 million | +4.5% |
| 1977 | 62.69 million | +4.5% |
| 1978 | 65.57 million | +4.6% |
| 1979 | 68.70 million | +4.8% |
| 1980 | 71.99 million | +4.8% |
| 1981 | 75.32 million | +4.6% |
| 1982 | 78.70 million | +4.5% |
| 1983 | 82.21 million | +4.5% |
| 1984 | 85.96 million | +4.6% |
| 1985 | 89.86 million | +4.5% |
| 1986 | 93.89 million | +4.5% |
| 1987 | 97.99 million | +4.4% |
| 1988 | 101.97 million | +4.1% |
| 1989 | 105.94 million | +3.9% |
| 1990 | 110.57 million | +4.4% |
| 1991 | 113.97 million | +3.1% |
| 1992 | 117.97 million | +3.5% |
| 1993 | 122.03 million | +3.4% |
| 1994 | 126.07 million | +3.3% |
| 1995 | 129.86 million | +3.0% |
| 1996 | 133.71 million | +3.0% |
| 1997 | 137.67 million | +3.0% |
| 1998 | 141.75 million | +3.0% |
| 1999 | 145.91 million | +2.9% |
| 2000 | 150.27 million | +3.0% |
| 2001 | 154.83 million | +3.0% |
| 2002 | 159.50 million | +3.0% |
| 2003 | 164.23 million | +3.0% |
| 2004 | 169.07 million | +3.0% |
| 2005 | 174.16 million | +3.0% |
| 2006 | 179.51 million | +3.1% |
| 2007 | 185.25 million | +3.2% |
| 2008 | 191.27 million | +3.2% |
| 2009 | 197.29 million | +3.2% |
| 2010 | 202.12 million | +2.4% |
| 2011 | 208.54 million | +3.2% |
| 2012 | 216.28 million | +3.7% |
| 2013 | 225.09 million | +4.1% |
| 2014 | 232.25 million | +3.2% |
| 2015 | 239.35 million | +3.1% |
| 2016 | 245.85 million | +2.7% |
| 2017 | 251.34 million | +2.2% |
| 2018 | 256.30 million | +2.0% |
| 2019 | 261.67 million | +2.1% |
| 2020 | 268.11 million | +2.5% |
| 2021 | 272.30 million | +1.6% |
| 2022 | 279.67 million | +2.7% |
| 2023 | 287.19 million | +2.7% |
| 2024 | 294.68 million | +2.6% |
| 2025 | 302.20 million | +2.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 35.73 million | 28.33 million | 43.87 million | 10 |
| 1970s | 56.63 million | 45.96 million | 68.70 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 88.38 million | 71.99 million | 105.94 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 127.95 million | 110.57 million | 145.91 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 172.54 million | 150.27 million | 197.29 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 233.88 million | 202.12 million | 261.67 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 284.02 million | 268.11 million | 302.20 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near Arab World
More climate change data for Arab World
- Urban population growth 2.5% (2025)
- Population, total, annual growth rate 2.18 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population, total, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Urban population, annual growth rate 2.55 % change on previous year (2025)
- Urban population, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Urban population, per capita 0.6004 units per person (2025)
- Population, total 503.36 million (2025)
- Population growth 2.2% (2025)
- Urban population, per square kilometre 21.92 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Population, total, per square kilometre 36.8 units per square kilometre (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is urban population in Arab World?
- Urban population in Arab World was 302.20 million in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest urban population recorded in Arab World?
- The highest recorded value was 302.20 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest urban population recorded in Arab World?
- The lowest recorded value was 28.33 million in 1960.
- How does Arab World rank for urban population?
- Arab World ranks 38th out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is urban population rising or falling in Arab World?
- Over the last ten years it is up 26.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Arab World data come from?
- The figures come from World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN), published as part of Urban population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 66 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated using World Bank population estimates and urban ratios from the United Nations World Urbanization Prospects. Aggregation of urban and rural population may not add up to total population because of different country coverages.