Share of population living in urban and rural areas in Guyana
Guyana: Share of population living in urban and rural areas was 73.6% in 2020. ▲ Rising
Share of population living in urban and rural areas in Guyana, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Guyana recorded 73.6% for share of population living in urban and rural areas in 2020.
The figure is up 0.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in urban and rural areas in Guyana peaked at 75.7% in 1985 and was at its lowest, 63.5%, in 1950.
That places Guyana 121st out of 236 countries with data for 2020, putting it 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 Guyana, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 63.5% | — |
| 1955 | 66.5% | +4.6% |
| 1960 | 69.8% | +4.9% |
| 1965 | 71.8% | +3.0% |
| 1970 | 73.7% | +2.6% |
| 1975 | 74.6% | +1.3% |
| 1980 | 74.6% | -0.0% |
| 1985 | 75.7% | +1.5% |
| 1990 | 74.6% | -1.5% |
| 1995 | 75.7% | +1.5% |
| 2000 | 74.0% | -2.3% |
| 2005 | 73.2% | -1.1% |
| 2010 | 73.0% | -0.3% |
| 2015 | 73.0% | +0.1% |
| 2020 | 73.6% | +0.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 65.0% | 63.5% | 66.5% | 2 |
| 1960s | 70.8% | 69.8% | 71.8% | 2 |
| 1970s | 74.2% | 73.7% | 74.6% | 2 |
| 1980s | 75.2% | 74.6% | 75.7% | 2 |
| 1990s | 75.1% | 74.6% | 75.7% | 2 |
| 2000s | 73.6% | 73.2% | 74.0% | 2 |
| 2010s | 73.0% | 73.0% | 73.0% | 2 |
| 2020s | 73.6% | 73.6% | 73.6% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Guyana
- 118 United States of America 74.0% compare
- 119 Belarus 73.8% compare
- 120 Costa Rica 73.7% compare
- 122 United States Virgin Islands 73.6% compare
- 123 Andorra 73.4% compare
- 124 Germany 73.0% compare
More reference data data for Guyana
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.0396 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.0791 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 0.2193 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0297 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 0.2193 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.1326 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.0457 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.4179 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1.05 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.1619 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in urban and rural areas in Guyana?
- Share of population living in urban and rural areas in Guyana was 73.6% 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 Guyana?
- The highest recorded value was 75.7% in 1985.
- What is the lowest share of population living in urban and rural areas recorded in Guyana?
- The lowest recorded value was 63.5% in 1950.
- How does Guyana rank for share of population living in urban and rural areas?
- Guyana ranks 121st out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in urban and rural areas rising or falling in Guyana?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Guyana 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.