Share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents in Guatemala
Guatemala: Share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents was 15.8% in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents in Guatemala, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents in Guatemala is 15.8%, measured in 2020.
The figure is down 11.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents in Guatemala peaked at 18.0% in 2005 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1950.
That places Guatemala 92nd out of 180 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents in Guatemala, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 0.0% | — |
| 1955 | 0.0% | — |
| 1960 | 0.0% | — |
| 1965 | 0.0% | — |
| 1970 | 0.0% | — |
| 1975 | 17.6% | — |
| 1980 | 17.7% | +0.3% |
| 1985 | 17.1% | -3.3% |
| 1990 | 16.4% | -4.2% |
| 1995 | 17.2% | +4.8% |
| 2000 | 17.7% | +3.1% |
| 2005 | 18.0% | +1.5% |
| 2010 | 17.9% | -0.3% |
| 2015 | 17.0% | -4.8% |
| 2020 | 15.8% | -7.4% |
Guatemala compared with similar countries
- Guatemala's 15.8% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 19.8%, 80% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
- Guatemala's 15.8% is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 25.6%, 62% of the median. (27 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 2 |
| 1960s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 2 |
| 1970s | 8.8% | 0.0% | 17.6% | 2 |
| 1980s | 17.4% | 17.1% | 17.7% | 2 |
| 1990s | 16.8% | 16.4% | 17.2% | 2 |
| 2000s | 17.8% | 17.7% | 18.0% | 2 |
| 2010s | 17.5% | 17.0% | 17.9% | 2 |
| 2020s | 15.8% | 15.8% | 15.8% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Guatemala
More reference data data for Guatemala
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.9286 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.39 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 3.72 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.1246 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 3.72 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 3.11 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 1.9 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 7.68 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 18.61 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.6786 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents in Guatemala?
- Share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents in Guatemala was 15.8% in 2020, according to European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents recorded in Guatemala?
- The highest recorded value was 18.0% in 2005.
- What is the lowest share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents recorded in Guatemala?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1950.
- How does Guatemala rank for share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents?
- Guatemala ranks 92nd out of 180 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents rising or falling in Guatemala?
- Over the last ten years it is down 11.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Guatemala data come from?
- The figures come from European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Percentage of the total population living in cities with 1 million or more people. City boundaries are defined using a consistent global approach based on satellite imagery and population data.