Urban population in East Asia & Pacific
East Asia & Pacific: Urban population was 1.55 billion in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Urban population in East Asia & Pacific, 1960–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
Analysis
In 2025, urban population in East Asia & Pacific stood at 1.55 billion. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.7% on the previous year and up 16.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban population in East Asia & Pacific peaked at 1.55 billion in 2025 and was at its lowest, 252.01 million, in 1962.
That places East Asia & Pacific 9th out of 47 groups with data for 2025, putting it 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, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 259.15 million | — |
| 1961 | 259.41 million | +0.1% |
| 1962 | 252.01 million | -2.9% |
| 1963 | 256.23 million | +1.7% |
| 1964 | 273.94 million | +6.9% |
| 1965 | 279.70 million | +2.1% |
| 1966 | 287.43 million | +2.8% |
| 1967 | 295.17 million | +2.7% |
| 1968 | 303.54 million | +2.8% |
| 1969 | 312.48 million | +2.9% |
| 1970 | 321.41 million | +2.9% |
| 1971 | 331.27 million | +3.1% |
| 1972 | 340.27 million | +2.7% |
| 1973 | 350.87 million | +3.1% |
| 1974 | 359.42 million | +2.4% |
| 1975 | 368.87 million | +2.6% |
| 1976 | 377.82 million | +2.4% |
| 1977 | 386.59 million | +2.3% |
| 1978 | 397.83 million | +2.9% |
| 1979 | 416.42 million | +4.7% |
| 1980 | 429.02 million | +3.0% |
| 1981 | 445.23 million | +3.8% |
| 1982 | 458.71 million | +3.0% |
| 1983 | 479.04 million | +4.4% |
| 1984 | 502.98 million | +5.0% |
| 1985 | 520.22 million | +3.4% |
| 1986 | 539.53 million | +3.7% |
| 1987 | 559.48 million | +3.7% |
| 1988 | 576.68 million | +3.1% |
| 1989 | 592.84 million | +2.8% |
| 1990 | 604.35 million | +1.9% |
| 1991 | 624.89 million | +3.4% |
| 1992 | 642.83 million | +2.9% |
| 1993 | 661.10 million | +2.8% |
| 1994 | 679.75 million | +2.8% |
| 1995 | 698.87 million | +2.8% |
| 1996 | 729.40 million | +4.4% |
| 1997 | 759.81 million | +4.2% |
| 1998 | 790.49 million | +4.0% |
| 1999 | 820.75 million | +3.8% |
| 2000 | 853.57 million | +4.0% |
| 2001 | 881.58 million | +3.3% |
| 2002 | 913.07 million | +3.6% |
| 2003 | 945.22 million | +3.5% |
| 2004 | 974.92 million | +3.1% |
| 2005 | 1.00 billion | +3.0% |
| 2006 | 1.03 billion | +3.1% |
| 2007 | 1.07 billion | +3.2% |
| 2008 | 1.10 billion | +2.6% |
| 2009 | 1.13 billion | +2.8% |
| 2010 | 1.15 billion | +2.2% |
| 2011 | 1.20 billion | +4.1% |
| 2012 | 1.23 billion | +2.6% |
| 2013 | 1.26 billion | +2.6% |
| 2014 | 1.29 billion | +2.4% |
| 2015 | 1.33 billion | +2.7% |
| 2016 | 1.36 billion | +2.6% |
| 2017 | 1.40 billion | +2.4% |
| 2018 | 1.43 billion | +2.4% |
| 2019 | 1.46 billion | +2.0% |
| 2020 | 1.48 billion | +1.4% |
| 2021 | 1.50 billion | +1.6% |
| 2022 | 1.52 billion | +0.9% |
| 2023 | 1.53 billion | +0.7% |
| 2024 | 1.54 billion | +0.7% |
| 2025 | 1.55 billion | +0.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 277.91 million | 252.01 million | 312.48 million | 10 |
| 1970s | 365.08 million | 321.41 million | 416.42 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 510.37 million | 429.02 million | 592.84 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 701.22 million | 604.35 million | 820.75 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 989.98 million | 853.57 million | 1.13 billion | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.31 billion | 1.15 billion | 1.46 billion | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.52 billion | 1.48 billion | 1.55 billion | 6 |
Countries ranked near East Asia & Pacific
More climate change data for East Asia & Pacific
- Population, total, annual growth rate 0.1068 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population, total, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Urban population, annual growth rate 0.7233 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population growth 0.1% (2025)
- Population, total 2.39 billion (2025)
- Urban population growth 0.7% (2025)
- Urban population, per capita 0.6477 units per person (2025)
- Urban population, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population, total, per square kilometre 97.52 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Urban population, per square kilometre 62.44 units per square kilometre (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is urban population in East Asia & Pacific?
- Urban population in East Asia & Pacific was 1.55 billion in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest urban population recorded in East Asia & Pacific?
- The highest recorded value was 1.55 billion in 2025.
- What is the lowest urban population recorded in East Asia & Pacific?
- The lowest recorded value was 252.01 million in 1962.
- How does East Asia & Pacific rank for urban population?
- East Asia & Pacific ranks 9th out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is urban population rising or falling in East Asia & Pacific?
- Over the last ten years it is up 16.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this East Asia & Pacific 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
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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.