Share of population living in urban and rural areas in Pakistan
Pakistan: Share of population living in urban and rural areas was 88.0% in 2020. ▲ Rising
Share of population living in urban and rural areas in Pakistan, 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 Pakistan is 88.0%, measured in 2020. That is the highest value across all 15 years on record.
The figure is up 5.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in urban and rural areas in Pakistan peaked at 88.0% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 39.3%, in 1950.
That places Pakistan 39th out of 236 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the top 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 Pakistan, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 39.3% | — |
| 1955 | 42.5% | +8.0% |
| 1960 | 46.2% | +8.8% |
| 1965 | 50.1% | +8.3% |
| 1970 | 54.1% | +8.1% |
| 1975 | 58.1% | +7.4% |
| 1980 | 61.3% | +5.5% |
| 1985 | 65.7% | +7.1% |
| 1990 | 70.9% | +7.9% |
| 1995 | 74.9% | +5.7% |
| 2000 | 78.6% | +4.9% |
| 2005 | 81.2% | +3.4% |
| 2010 | 83.8% | +3.2% |
| 2015 | 85.7% | +2.2% |
| 2020 | 88.0% | +2.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 40.9% | 39.3% | 42.5% | 2 |
| 1960s | 48.2% | 46.2% | 50.1% | 2 |
| 1970s | 56.1% | 54.1% | 58.1% | 2 |
| 1980s | 63.5% | 61.3% | 65.7% | 2 |
| 1990s | 72.9% | 70.9% | 74.9% | 2 |
| 2000s | 79.9% | 78.6% | 81.2% | 2 |
| 2010s | 84.7% | 83.8% | 85.7% | 2 |
| 2020s | 88.0% | 88.0% | 88.0% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Pakistan
- 36 Equatorial Guinea 89.5% compare
- 37 Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of 88.5% compare
- 38 Réunion 88.3% compare
- 40 Iraq 87.5% compare
- 41 Trinidad and Tobago 87.4% compare
- 42 Saint Barthelemy 87.2% compare
More reference data data for Pakistan
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 6.05 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 20.96 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 61.26 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.98 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 61.26 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 20.3 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 5.75 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 91.27 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 260 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 10.79 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in urban and rural areas in Pakistan?
- Share of population living in urban and rural areas in Pakistan was 88.0% 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 Pakistan?
- The highest recorded value was 88.0% in 2020.
- What is the lowest share of population living in urban and rural areas recorded in Pakistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 39.3% in 1950.
- How does Pakistan rank for share of population living in urban and rural areas?
- Pakistan ranks 39th out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in urban and rural areas rising or falling in Pakistan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 5.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Pakistan 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.