Urban population in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan
Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan: Urban population was 463.33 million in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Urban population in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, 1960–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
Analysis
The most recent figure for urban population in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan is 463.33 million, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
That represents a change of up 2.3% on the previous year and up 24.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban population in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan peaked at 463.33 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 46.90 million, in 1960.
Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan ranks 28th 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, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 46.90 million | — |
| 1961 | 49.13 million | +4.8% |
| 1962 | 51.53 million | +4.9% |
| 1963 | 54.01 million | +4.8% |
| 1964 | 56.57 million | +4.7% |
| 1965 | 59.12 million | +4.5% |
| 1966 | 61.71 million | +4.4% |
| 1967 | 64.62 million | +4.7% |
| 1968 | 67.56 million | +4.6% |
| 1969 | 70.66 million | +4.6% |
| 1970 | 73.91 million | +4.6% |
| 1971 | 77.25 million | +4.5% |
| 1972 | 80.73 million | +4.5% |
| 1973 | 84.40 million | +4.5% |
| 1974 | 88.20 million | +4.5% |
| 1975 | 92.21 million | +4.6% |
| 1976 | 96.36 million | +4.5% |
| 1977 | 100.79 million | +4.6% |
| 1978 | 105.34 million | +4.5% |
| 1979 | 110.17 million | +4.6% |
| 1980 | 115.32 million | +4.7% |
| 1981 | 120.94 million | +4.9% |
| 1982 | 126.68 million | +4.7% |
| 1983 | 132.35 million | +4.5% |
| 1984 | 138.24 million | +4.4% |
| 1985 | 144.29 million | +4.4% |
| 1986 | 150.46 million | +4.3% |
| 1987 | 156.79 million | +4.2% |
| 1988 | 163.00 million | +4.0% |
| 1989 | 169.24 million | +3.8% |
| 1990 | 176.29 million | +4.2% |
| 1991 | 182.34 million | +3.4% |
| 1992 | 189.07 million | +3.7% |
| 1993 | 195.26 million | +3.3% |
| 1994 | 201.39 million | +3.1% |
| 1995 | 207.61 million | +3.1% |
| 1996 | 213.81 million | +3.0% |
| 1997 | 220.47 million | +3.1% |
| 1998 | 227.12 million | +3.0% |
| 1999 | 233.94 million | +3.0% |
| 2000 | 240.99 million | +3.0% |
| 2001 | 248.26 million | +3.0% |
| 2002 | 255.33 million | +2.8% |
| 2003 | 262.62 million | +2.9% |
| 2004 | 270.50 million | +3.0% |
| 2005 | 278.69 million | +3.0% |
| 2006 | 287.11 million | +3.0% |
| 2007 | 295.84 million | +3.0% |
| 2008 | 304.80 million | +3.0% |
| 2009 | 313.89 million | +3.0% |
| 2010 | 321.76 million | +2.5% |
| 2011 | 331.30 million | +3.0% |
| 2012 | 341.95 million | +3.2% |
| 2013 | 353.35 million | +3.3% |
| 2014 | 362.98 million | +2.7% |
| 2015 | 372.38 million | +2.6% |
| 2016 | 381.10 million | +2.3% |
| 2017 | 388.87 million | +2.0% |
| 2018 | 396.18 million | +1.9% |
| 2019 | 404.34 million | +2.1% |
| 2020 | 413.61 million | +2.3% |
| 2021 | 420.78 million | +1.7% |
| 2022 | 431.27 million | +2.5% |
| 2023 | 442.23 million | +2.5% |
| 2024 | 452.90 million | +2.4% |
| 2025 | 463.33 million | +2.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 58.18 million | 46.90 million | 70.66 million | 10 |
| 1970s | 90.94 million | 73.91 million | 110.17 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 141.73 million | 115.32 million | 169.24 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 204.73 million | 176.29 million | 233.94 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 275.80 million | 240.99 million | 313.89 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 365.42 million | 321.76 million | 404.34 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 437.35 million | 413.61 million | 463.33 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan
More climate change data for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan
- Population growth 1.8% (2025)
- Population, total 828.02 million (2025)
- Urban population growth 2.3% (2025)
- Urban population 56.0% (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million 22.8% (2025)
- Annual freshwater withdrawals, total 491.71 billion cubic meters (2022)
- Annual freshwater withdrawals, total 148.3% (2022)
- Terrestrial protected areas 8.7% (2025)
- Terrestrial and marine protected areas 7.8% (2025)
- Marine protected areas 4.3% (2025)
All data for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan →
Frequently asked questions
- What is urban population in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan?
- Urban population in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan was 463.33 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?
- The highest recorded value was 463.33 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest urban population recorded in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 46.90 million in 1960.
- How does Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan rank for urban population?
- Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan ranks 28th out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is urban population rising or falling in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 24.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan 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.