Share of population living in urban and rural areas in Belize
Belize: Share of population living in urban and rural areas was 56.1% in 2020. ▲ Rising
Share of population living in urban and rural areas in Belize, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of population living in urban and rural areas in Belize is 56.1%, measured in 2020.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 5.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in urban and rural areas in Belize peaked at 60.1% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 37.5%, in 1950.
Belize ranks 192nd of 236 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 15 years of available data.
Share of population living in urban and rural areas in Belize, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 37.5% | — |
| 1955 | 39.3% | +4.7% |
| 1960 | 40.9% | +4.1% |
| 1965 | 42.5% | +3.9% |
| 1970 | 44.5% | +4.6% |
| 1975 | 44.7% | +0.6% |
| 1980 | 42.3% | -5.5% |
| 1985 | 40.5% | -4.2% |
| 1990 | 47.4% | +17.1% |
| 1995 | 57.1% | +20.5% |
| 2000 | 60.1% | +5.3% |
| 2005 | 59.8% | -0.5% |
| 2010 | 59.6% | -0.4% |
| 2015 | 58.1% | -2.5% |
| 2020 | 56.1% | -3.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 38.4% | 37.5% | 39.3% | 2 |
| 1960s | 41.7% | 40.9% | 42.5% | 2 |
| 1970s | 44.6% | 44.5% | 44.7% | 2 |
| 1980s | 41.4% | 40.5% | 42.3% | 2 |
| 1990s | 52.2% | 47.4% | 57.1% | 2 |
| 2000s | 60.0% | 59.8% | 60.1% | 2 |
| 2010s | 58.9% | 58.1% | 59.6% | 2 |
| 2020s | 56.1% | 56.1% | 56.1% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Belize
- 189 Sierra Leone 57.7% compare
- 190 Latvia 57.1% compare
- 191 Maldives 56.5% compare
- 193 Central African Republic 56.1% compare
- 194 Fiji 55.6% compare
- 195 Guinea-Bissau 54.9% compare
More reference data data for Belize
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.0139 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.0337 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 0.0813 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0041 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 0.0813 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.0467 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.0206 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.1856 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 0.399 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0225 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in urban and rural areas in Belize?
- Share of population living in urban and rural areas in Belize was 56.1% in 2020, according to European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living in urban and rural areas recorded in Belize?
- The highest recorded value was 60.1% in 2000.
- What is the lowest share of population living in urban and rural areas recorded in Belize?
- The lowest recorded value was 37.5% in 1950.
- How does Belize rank for share of population living in urban and rural areas?
- Belize ranks 192nd out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in urban and rural areas rising or falling in Belize?
- Over the last ten years it is down 5.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Belize data come from?
- The figures come from European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living in urban and rural areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Estimated share of the population living in urban areas (the sum of cities and towns and suburbs). Urban areas are identified using satellite imagery and population data, applying the same definitions across countries.