Share of population living in urban and rural areas in Guatemala
Guatemala: Share of population living in urban and rural areas was 72.9% in 2020. ▲ Rising
Share of population living in urban and rural areas in Guatemala, 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 Guatemala is 72.9%, measured in 2020.
That represents a change of down 0.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in urban and rural areas in Guatemala peaked at 73.1% in 2015 and was at its lowest, 50.0%, in 1950.
Guatemala ranks 126th of 236 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
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 Guatemala, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 50.0% | — |
| 1955 | 52.4% | +4.6% |
| 1960 | 54.9% | +4.8% |
| 1965 | 57.5% | +4.9% |
| 1970 | 60.0% | +4.3% |
| 1975 | 62.2% | +3.7% |
| 1980 | 63.7% | +2.4% |
| 1985 | 65.4% | +2.6% |
| 1990 | 67.5% | +3.2% |
| 1995 | 69.7% | +3.2% |
| 2000 | 71.6% | +2.7% |
| 2005 | 72.5% | +1.3% |
| 2010 | 73.0% | +0.6% |
| 2015 | 73.1% | +0.1% |
| 2020 | 72.9% | -0.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 51.2% | 50.0% | 52.4% | 2 |
| 1960s | 56.2% | 54.9% | 57.5% | 2 |
| 1970s | 61.1% | 60.0% | 62.2% | 2 |
| 1980s | 64.6% | 63.7% | 65.4% | 2 |
| 1990s | 68.6% | 67.5% | 69.7% | 2 |
| 2000s | 72.0% | 71.6% | 72.5% | 2 |
| 2010s | 73.0% | 73.0% | 73.1% | 2 |
| 2020s | 72.9% | 72.9% | 72.9% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Guatemala
More reference data data for Guatemala
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.9286 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.39 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 3.72 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.1246 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 3.72 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 3.11 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 1.9 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 7.68 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 18.61 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.6786 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in urban and rural areas in Guatemala?
- Share of population living in urban and rural areas in Guatemala was 72.9% 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 Guatemala?
- The highest recorded value was 73.1% in 2015.
- What is the lowest share of population living in urban and rural areas recorded in Guatemala?
- The lowest recorded value was 50.0% in 1950.
- How does Guatemala rank for share of population living in urban and rural areas?
- Guatemala ranks 126th out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in urban and rural areas rising or falling in Guatemala?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Guatemala 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.