Share of population living in urban areas in China
China: Share of population living in urban areas was 83.6% in 2020. ▲ Rising
Share of population living in urban areas in China, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
China recorded 83.6% for share of population living in urban areas in 2020. That is the highest value across all 15 years on record.
That represents a change of up 0.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in urban areas in China peaked at 83.6% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 64.6%, in 1950.
China ranks 62nd 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 areas in China, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 64.6% | — |
| 1955 | 66.6% | +3.1% |
| 1960 | 68.3% | +2.7% |
| 1965 | 69.9% | +2.3% |
| 1970 | 72.4% | +3.5% |
| 1975 | 74.5% | +2.8% |
| 1980 | 75.4% | +1.2% |
| 1985 | 76.9% | +2.1% |
| 1990 | 78.9% | +2.5% |
| 1995 | 80.4% | +1.9% |
| 2000 | 81.5% | +1.4% |
| 2005 | 82.3% | +0.9% |
| 2010 | 82.9% | +0.8% |
| 2015 | 83.4% | +0.6% |
| 2020 | 83.6% | +0.3% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 83.6% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 74.7%, 1.1× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- China's 83.6% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 70.5%, 1.2× the median. (37 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 65.6% | 64.6% | 66.6% | 2 |
| 1960s | 69.1% | 68.3% | 69.9% | 2 |
| 1970s | 73.4% | 72.4% | 74.5% | 2 |
| 1980s | 76.2% | 75.4% | 76.9% | 2 |
| 1990s | 79.6% | 78.9% | 80.4% | 2 |
| 2000s | 81.9% | 81.5% | 82.3% | 2 |
| 2010s | 83.2% | 82.9% | 83.4% | 2 |
| 2020s | 83.6% | 83.6% | 83.6% | 1 |
Countries ranked near China
- 59 Afghanistan 84.4% compare
- 60 Netherlands 84.3% compare
- 61 Saudi Arabia 83.6% compare
- 63 Sao Tome and Principe 83.4% compare
- 64 India 83.4% compare
- 65 Gabon 83.1% compare
More reference data data for China
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 49.4 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 75.5 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 303.29 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 18.8 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 303.29 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 165.62 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 206.2 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 350.74 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1,480 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 102.37 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in urban areas in China?
- Share of population living in urban areas in China was 83.6% 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 areas recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 83.6% in 2020.
- What is the lowest share of population living in urban areas recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 64.6% in 1950.
- How does China rank for share of population living in urban areas?
- China ranks 62nd out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in urban areas rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this China 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 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.