Urban population in East Asia & Pacific (excluding high income)
East Asia & Pacific (excluding high income): Urban population was 1.33 billion in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Urban population in East Asia & Pacific (excluding high income), 1960–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
Analysis
The most recent figure for urban population in East Asia & Pacific (excluding high income) is 1.33 billion, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
That represents a change of up 0.8% on the previous year and up 19.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban population in East Asia & Pacific (excluding high income) peaked at 1.33 billion in 2025 and was at its lowest, 161.09 million, in 1962.
East Asia & Pacific (excluding high income) ranks 10th of 45 groups on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Urban population in East Asia & Pacific (excluding high income), year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 173.46 million | — |
| 1961 | 171.15 million | -1.3% |
| 1962 | 161.09 million | -5.9% |
| 1963 | 162.67 million | +1.0% |
| 1964 | 177.71 million | +9.2% |
| 1965 | 180.71 million | +1.7% |
| 1966 | 185.77 million | +2.8% |
| 1967 | 190.81 million | +2.7% |
| 1968 | 196.06 million | +2.8% |
| 1969 | 201.62 million | +2.8% |
| 1970 | 207.19 million | +2.8% |
| 1971 | 212.88 million | +2.7% |
| 1972 | 218.36 million | +2.6% |
| 1973 | 225.28 million | +3.2% |
| 1974 | 229.89 million | +2.0% |
| 1975 | 236.19 million | +2.7% |
| 1976 | 242.48 million | +2.7% |
| 1977 | 248.54 million | +2.5% |
| 1978 | 257.28 million | +3.5% |
| 1979 | 273.14 million | +6.2% |
| 1980 | 283.24 million | +3.7% |
| 1981 | 296.84 million | +4.8% |
| 1982 | 307.72 million | +3.7% |
| 1983 | 325.61 million | +5.8% |
| 1984 | 347.22 million | +6.6% |
| 1985 | 362.17 million | +4.3% |
| 1986 | 379.14 million | +4.7% |
| 1987 | 396.66 million | +4.6% |
| 1988 | 411.44 million | +3.7% |
| 1989 | 425.26 million | +3.4% |
| 1990 | 434.66 million | +2.2% |
| 1991 | 452.96 million | +4.2% |
| 1992 | 468.98 million | +3.5% |
| 1993 | 485.57 million | +3.5% |
| 1994 | 502.54 million | +3.5% |
| 1995 | 520.00 million | +3.5% |
| 1996 | 548.79 million | +5.5% |
| 1997 | 577.92 million | +5.3% |
| 1998 | 607.30 million | +5.1% |
| 1999 | 636.28 million | +4.8% |
| 2000 | 667.76 million | +4.9% |
| 2001 | 693.82 million | +3.9% |
| 2002 | 722.47 million | +4.1% |
| 2003 | 751.33 million | +4.0% |
| 2004 | 777.55 million | +3.5% |
| 2005 | 803.97 million | +3.4% |
| 2006 | 832.15 million | +3.5% |
| 2007 | 863.03 million | +3.7% |
| 2008 | 888.42 million | +2.9% |
| 2009 | 917.50 million | +3.3% |
| 2010 | 940.54 million | +2.5% |
| 2011 | 986.88 million | +4.9% |
| 2012 | 1.02 billion | +3.0% |
| 2013 | 1.05 billion | +3.1% |
| 2014 | 1.08 billion | +2.8% |
| 2015 | 1.11 billion | +3.2% |
| 2016 | 1.15 billion | +3.0% |
| 2017 | 1.18 billion | +2.8% |
| 2018 | 1.21 billion | +2.8% |
| 2019 | 1.24 billion | +2.3% |
| 2020 | 1.26 billion | +1.7% |
| 2021 | 1.28 billion | +2.0% |
| 2022 | 1.30 billion | +1.1% |
| 2023 | 1.31 billion | +0.8% |
| 2024 | 1.32 billion | +0.8% |
| 2025 | 1.33 billion | +0.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 180.10 million | 161.09 million | 201.62 million | 10 |
| 1970s | 235.12 million | 207.19 million | 273.14 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 353.53 million | 283.24 million | 425.26 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 523.50 million | 434.66 million | 636.28 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 791.80 million | 667.76 million | 917.50 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.10 billion | 940.54 million | 1.24 billion | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.30 billion | 1.26 billion | 1.33 billion | 6 |
Countries ranked near East Asia & Pacific (excluding high income)
More climate change data for East Asia & Pacific (excluding high income)
- Population growth 0.1% (2025)
- Population, total 2.14 billion (2025)
- Urban population growth 0.8% (2025)
- Urban population 62.1% (2025)
- Annual freshwater withdrawals, total 1,082 billion cubic meters (2022)
- Annual freshwater withdrawals, total 12.4% (2022)
- Terrestrial protected areas 14.9% (2025)
- Terrestrial and marine protected areas 7.3% (2025)
- Marine protected areas 2.7% (2025)
- CPIA public sector management and institutions cluster average 2.98 1=low to 6=high (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is urban population in East Asia & Pacific (excluding high income)?
- Urban population in East Asia & Pacific (excluding high income) was 1.33 billion in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest urban population recorded in East Asia & Pacific (excluding high income)?
- The highest recorded value was 1.33 billion in 2025.
- What is the lowest urban population recorded in East Asia & Pacific (excluding high income)?
- The lowest recorded value was 161.09 million in 1962.
- How does East Asia & Pacific (excluding high income) rank for urban population?
- East Asia & Pacific (excluding high income) ranks 10th out of 45 groups with data for 2025.
- Is urban population rising or falling in East Asia & Pacific (excluding high income)?
- Over the last ten years it is up 19.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this East Asia & Pacific (excluding high income) 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.