Urban population in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income)
Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income): Urban population was 398.54 million in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Urban population in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income), 1960–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
Analysis
Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income) recorded 398.54 million for urban population in 2025. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
The figure is up 2.1% on the previous year and up 23.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban population in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income) peaked at 398.54 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 43.63 million, in 1960.
Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income) ranks 30th of 47 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Urban population in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income), year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 43.63 million | — |
| 1961 | 45.68 million | +4.7% |
| 1962 | 47.85 million | +4.8% |
| 1963 | 50.11 million | +4.7% |
| 1964 | 52.42 million | +4.6% |
| 1965 | 54.72 million | +4.4% |
| 1966 | 57.07 million | +4.3% |
| 1967 | 59.68 million | +4.6% |
| 1968 | 62.34 million | +4.5% |
| 1969 | 65.13 million | +4.5% |
| 1970 | 68.02 million | +4.4% |
| 1971 | 70.97 million | +4.3% |
| 1972 | 74.04 million | +4.3% |
| 1973 | 77.24 million | +4.3% |
| 1974 | 80.57 million | +4.3% |
| 1975 | 84.11 million | +4.4% |
| 1976 | 87.75 million | +4.3% |
| 1977 | 91.61 million | +4.4% |
| 1978 | 95.57 million | +4.3% |
| 1979 | 99.76 million | +4.4% |
| 1980 | 104.26 million | +4.5% |
| 1981 | 109.21 million | +4.8% |
| 1982 | 114.27 million | +4.6% |
| 1983 | 119.23 million | +4.3% |
| 1984 | 124.42 million | +4.4% |
| 1985 | 129.75 million | +4.3% |
| 1986 | 135.15 million | +4.2% |
| 1987 | 140.69 million | +4.1% |
| 1988 | 146.09 million | +3.8% |
| 1989 | 151.53 million | +3.7% |
| 1990 | 158.31 million | +4.5% |
| 1991 | 163.78 million | +3.5% |
| 1992 | 169.43 million | +3.5% |
| 1993 | 174.82 million | +3.2% |
| 1994 | 180.21 million | +3.1% |
| 1995 | 185.68 million | +3.0% |
| 1996 | 191.05 million | +2.9% |
| 1997 | 196.81 million | +3.0% |
| 1998 | 202.56 million | +2.9% |
| 1999 | 208.45 million | +2.9% |
| 2000 | 214.43 million | +2.9% |
| 2001 | 220.50 million | +2.8% |
| 2002 | 226.35 million | +2.7% |
| 2003 | 232.40 million | +2.7% |
| 2004 | 239.03 million | +2.9% |
| 2005 | 245.85 million | +2.9% |
| 2006 | 252.68 million | +2.8% |
| 2007 | 259.46 million | +2.7% |
| 2008 | 266.41 million | +2.7% |
| 2009 | 273.69 million | +2.7% |
| 2010 | 281.13 million | +2.7% |
| 2011 | 288.95 million | +2.8% |
| 2012 | 297.59 million | +3.0% |
| 2013 | 306.69 million | +3.1% |
| 2014 | 314.63 million | +2.6% |
| 2015 | 321.61 million | +2.2% |
| 2016 | 328.26 million | +2.1% |
| 2017 | 335.09 million | +2.1% |
| 2018 | 342.43 million | +2.2% |
| 2019 | 350.19 million | +2.3% |
| 2020 | 357.97 million | +2.2% |
| 2021 | 365.73 million | +2.2% |
| 2022 | 373.80 million | +2.2% |
| 2023 | 382.21 million | +2.2% |
| 2024 | 390.44 million | +2.2% |
| 2025 | 398.54 million | +2.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 53.86 million | 43.63 million | 65.13 million | 10 |
| 1970s | 82.96 million | 68.02 million | 99.76 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 127.46 million | 104.26 million | 151.53 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 183.11 million | 158.31 million | 208.45 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 243.08 million | 214.43 million | 273.69 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 316.66 million | 281.13 million | 350.19 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 378.11 million | 357.97 million | 398.54 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income)
More climate change data for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income)
- Population growth 1.6% (2025)
- Population, total 753.90 million (2025)
- Urban population growth 2.1% (2025)
- Urban population 52.9% (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million 20.1% (2025)
- Annual freshwater withdrawals, total 463.21 billion cubic meters (2022)
- Annual freshwater withdrawals, total 141.7% (2022)
- Terrestrial protected areas 6.0% (2025)
- Terrestrial and marine protected areas 5.1% (2025)
- Marine protected areas 1.1% (2025)
All data for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income) →
Frequently asked questions
- What is urban population in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income)?
- Urban population in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income) was 398.54 million in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest urban population recorded in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income)?
- The highest recorded value was 398.54 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest urban population recorded in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income)?
- The lowest recorded value was 43.63 million in 1960.
- How does Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income) rank for urban population?
- Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income) ranks 30th out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is urban population rising or falling in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income)?
- Over the last ten years it is up 23.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (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.