Share of population living in urban and rural areas in Portugal
Portugal: Share of population living in urban and rural areas was 70.5% in 2020. ▲ Rising
Share of population living in urban and rural areas in Portugal, 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 Portugal is 70.5%, measured in 2020. That is the highest value across all 15 years on record.
The figure is up 0.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in urban and rural areas in Portugal peaked at 70.5% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 62.4%, in 1950.
Portugal ranks 141st 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 Portugal, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 62.4% | — |
| 1955 | 63.2% | +1.2% |
| 1960 | 63.8% | +1.0% |
| 1965 | 63.8% | +0.1% |
| 1970 | 63.2% | -1.0% |
| 1975 | 64.3% | +1.8% |
| 1980 | 66.1% | +2.8% |
| 1985 | 66.9% | +1.1% |
| 1990 | 67.3% | +0.6% |
| 1995 | 67.9% | +1.0% |
| 2000 | 68.7% | +1.1% |
| 2005 | 69.4% | +1.0% |
| 2010 | 70.0% | +0.9% |
| 2015 | 70.2% | +0.3% |
| 2020 | 70.5% | +0.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 62.8% | 62.4% | 63.2% | 2 |
| 1960s | 63.8% | 63.8% | 63.8% | 2 |
| 1970s | 63.8% | 63.2% | 64.3% | 2 |
| 1980s | 66.5% | 66.1% | 66.9% | 2 |
| 1990s | 67.6% | 67.3% | 67.9% | 2 |
| 2000s | 69.0% | 68.7% | 69.4% | 2 |
| 2010s | 70.1% | 70.0% | 70.2% | 2 |
| 2020s | 70.5% | 70.5% | 70.5% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Portugal
- 138 Bolivia, Plurinational State of 71.2% compare
- 139 Suriname 70.8% compare
- 140 North Macedonia 70.5% compare
- 142 Mongolia 70.5% compare
- 143 French Guiana 70.1% compare
- 144 Senegal 69.9% compare
More reference data data for Portugal
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.5144 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.4372 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1.51 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0472 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 1.51 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.72 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 1.02 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.81 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 6.9 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.2572 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in urban and rural areas in Portugal?
- Share of population living in urban and rural areas in Portugal was 70.5% 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 Portugal?
- The highest recorded value was 70.5% in 2020.
- What is the lowest share of population living in urban and rural areas recorded in Portugal?
- The lowest recorded value was 62.4% in 1950.
- How does Portugal rank for share of population living in urban and rural areas?
- Portugal ranks 141st out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in urban and rural areas rising or falling in Portugal?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Portugal 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.