Share of population living in urban and rural areas in Timor-Leste
Timor-Leste: Share of population living in urban and rural areas was 49.4% in 2020. ▲ Rising
Share of population living in urban and rural areas in Timor-Leste, 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 Timor-Leste is 49.4%, measured in 2020. That is the highest value across all 15 years on record.
The figure is up 26.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in urban and rural areas in Timor-Leste peaked at 49.4% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 11.1%, in 1950.
Timor-Leste ranks 210th 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 Timor-Leste, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 11.1% | — |
| 1955 | 12.2% | +9.4% |
| 1960 | 13.5% | +11.1% |
| 1965 | 15.2% | +12.1% |
| 1970 | 17.1% | +12.6% |
| 1975 | 19.1% | +11.6% |
| 1980 | 22.4% | +17.6% |
| 1985 | 25.1% | +11.8% |
| 1990 | 29.2% | +16.5% |
| 1995 | 31.1% | +6.6% |
| 2000 | 28.4% | -8.7% |
| 2005 | 33.4% | +17.4% |
| 2010 | 39.0% | +16.8% |
| 2015 | 43.5% | +11.5% |
| 2020 | 49.4% | +13.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 11.7% | 11.1% | 12.2% | 2 |
| 1960s | 14.4% | 13.5% | 15.2% | 2 |
| 1970s | 18.1% | 17.1% | 19.1% | 2 |
| 1980s | 23.7% | 22.4% | 25.1% | 2 |
| 1990s | 30.2% | 29.2% | 31.1% | 2 |
| 2000s | 30.9% | 28.4% | 33.4% | 2 |
| 2010s | 41.2% | 39.0% | 43.5% | 2 |
| 2020s | 49.4% | 49.4% | 49.4% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Timor-Leste
- 207 Mozambique 50.0% compare
- 208 Niger 49.4% compare
- 209 Burkina Faso 49.4% compare
- 211 Mali 47.1% compare
- 212 Papua New Guinea 46.3% compare
- 213 Dominica 42.9% compare
More reference data data for Timor-Leste
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O (AR5) - Manure applied 41.57 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CH4) - IPCC Agriculture 33.74 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 0.1475 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O (AR5) - Burning - Crop 2.54 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O (AR5) - Agricultural 171.61 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O (AR5) - Crop Residues 17.28 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 0.9426 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O (AR5) - Manure left on 112.76 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O (AR5) - Manure Management 75.64 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Burning - Crop residues 0.0096 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in urban and rural areas in Timor-Leste?
- Share of population living in urban and rural areas in Timor-Leste was 49.4% 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 Timor-Leste?
- The highest recorded value was 49.4% in 2020.
- What is the lowest share of population living in urban and rural areas recorded in Timor-Leste?
- The lowest recorded value was 11.1% in 1950.
- How does Timor-Leste rank for share of population living in urban and rural areas?
- Timor-Leste ranks 210th out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in urban and rural areas rising or falling in Timor-Leste?
- Over the last ten years it is up 26.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Timor-Leste 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.