Share of population living in urban and rural areas in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Share of population living in urban and rural areas was 86.0% in 2020. ▬ Flat
Share of population living in urban and rural areas in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland recorded 86.0% for share of population living in urban and rural areas in 2020. That is the highest value across all 15 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in urban and rural areas in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland peaked at 86.0% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 84.1%, in 1950.
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 49th of 236 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
Share of population living in urban and rural areas in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 84.1% | — |
| 1955 | 84.2% | +0.1% |
| 1960 | 84.4% | +0.2% |
| 1965 | 84.7% | +0.4% |
| 1970 | 84.9% | +0.2% |
| 1975 | 84.9% | -0.0% |
| 1980 | 84.7% | -0.2% |
| 1985 | 84.6% | -0.1% |
| 1990 | 84.7% | +0.1% |
| 1995 | 84.9% | +0.2% |
| 2000 | 85.0% | +0.1% |
| 2005 | 85.2% | +0.2% |
| 2010 | 85.4% | +0.3% |
| 2015 | 85.7% | +0.3% |
| 2020 | 86.0% | +0.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 84.2% | 84.1% | 84.2% | 2 |
| 1960s | 84.6% | 84.4% | 84.7% | 2 |
| 1970s | 84.9% | 84.9% | 84.9% | 2 |
| 1980s | 84.7% | 84.6% | 84.7% | 2 |
| 1990s | 84.8% | 84.7% | 84.9% | 2 |
| 2000s | 85.1% | 85.0% | 85.2% | 2 |
| 2010s | 85.6% | 85.4% | 85.7% | 2 |
| 2020s | 86.0% | 86.0% | 86.0% | 1 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
More reference data data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 3.13 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 3.97 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 13.26 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.01 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 13.26 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 10.5 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 6.51 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 15.81 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 59.34 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 5.48 (2050)
All data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland →
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in urban and rural areas in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- Share of population living in urban and rural areas in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was 86.0% 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 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 86.0% in 2020.
- What is the lowest share of population living in urban and rural areas recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 84.1% in 1950.
- How does United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank for share of population living in urban and rural areas?
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 49th out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in urban and rural areas rising or falling in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 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.
Download this data
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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.