Do more people live in urban or rural areas? in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Do more people live in urban or rural areas? was 83.3% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
83.3%
Change on year
up 0.1%
World rank
60th
of 238 countries
All-time high
83.3%
in 2025
All-time low
2.1%
in 1500
Years of data
108
1000–2025
Do more people live in urban or rural areas? in United Kingdom, 1000–2025
Source: HYDE (2023); United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2025, do more people live in urban or rural areas? in United Kingdom stood at 83.3%. That is the highest value across all 108 years on record.
The figure is up 0.1% on the previous year and up 1.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, do more people live in urban or rural areas? in United Kingdom peaked at 83.3% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 2.1%, in 1500.
That places United Kingdom 60th out of 238 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 108 years of available data.
Do more people live in urban or rural areas? in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1000 | 2.4% | — |
| 1100 | 3.1% | +29.2% |
| 1200 | 2.2% | -29.0% |
| 1300 | 2.2% | +0.0% |
| 1400 | 2.5% | +13.6% |
| 1500 | 2.1% | -16.0% |
| 1600 | 2.1% | +0.0% |
| 1700 | 2.1% | +0.0% |
| 1710 | 6.3% | +201.0% |
| 1720 | 10.5% | +66.8% |
| 1730 | 14.8% | +40.0% |
| 1740 | 19.0% | +28.6% |
| 1750 | 23.2% | +22.2% |
| 1760 | 24.3% | +4.7% |
| 1770 | 25.4% | +4.5% |
| 1780 | 26.5% | +4.3% |
| 1790 | 27.6% | +4.2% |
| 1800 | 28.7% | +4.0% |
| 1810 | 32.1% | +11.7% |
| 1820 | 35.4% | +10.5% |
| 1830 | 38.8% | +9.5% |
| 1840 | 42.1% | +8.6% |
| 1850 | 45.5% | +8.0% |
| 1860 | 48.8% | +7.4% |
| 1870 | 52.2% | +6.9% |
| 1880 | 55.5% | +6.4% |
| 1890 | 58.9% | +6.0% |
| 1900 | 62.2% | +5.7% |
| 1910 | 65.6% | +5.4% |
| 1920 | 68.9% | +5.1% |
| 1930 | 72.3% | +4.9% |
| 1940 | 75.6% | +4.6% |
| 1950 | 80.3% | +6.2% |
| 1951 | 80.3% | -0.0% |
| 1952 | 80.2% | -0.1% |
| 1953 | 80.1% | -0.1% |
| 1954 | 80.0% | -0.2% |
| 1955 | 79.7% | -0.3% |
| 1956 | 79.5% | -0.3% |
| 1957 | 79.3% | -0.3% |
| 1958 | 79.0% | -0.3% |
| 1959 | 78.8% | -0.3% |
| 1960 | 78.6% | -0.3% |
| 1961 | 78.4% | -0.2% |
| 1962 | 78.2% | -0.2% |
| 1963 | 78.0% | -0.2% |
| 1964 | 77.8% | -0.3% |
| 1965 | 77.6% | -0.3% |
| 1966 | 77.4% | -0.2% |
| 1967 | 77.2% | -0.2% |
| 1968 | 77.1% | -0.2% |
| 1969 | 77.0% | -0.1% |
| 1970 | 76.9% | -0.1% |
| 1971 | 76.9% | -0.0% |
| 1972 | 77.0% | +0.1% |
| 1973 | 77.1% | +0.2% |
| 1974 | 77.3% | +0.3% |
| 1975 | 77.5% | +0.3% |
| 1976 | 77.8% | +0.3% |
| 1977 | 78.1% | +0.3% |
| 1978 | 78.3% | +0.3% |
| 1979 | 78.5% | +0.2% |
| 1980 | 78.6% | +0.1% |
| 1981 | 78.6% | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 78.6% | -0.0% |
| 1983 | 78.5% | -0.1% |
| 1984 | 78.5% | -0.1% |
| 1985 | 78.4% | -0.1% |
| 1986 | 78.3% | -0.1% |
| 1987 | 78.3% | -0.1% |
| 1988 | 78.2% | -0.1% |
| 1989 | 78.1% | -0.1% |
| 1990 | 78.1% | -0.0% |
| 1991 | 78.1% | -0.0% |
| 1992 | 78.2% | +0.1% |
| 1993 | 78.3% | +0.2% |
| 1994 | 78.4% | +0.2% |
| 1995 | 78.7% | +0.3% |
| 1996 | 78.9% | +0.3% |
| 1997 | 79.1% | +0.3% |
| 1998 | 79.4% | +0.3% |
| 1999 | 79.6% | +0.3% |
| 2000 | 79.8% | +0.3% |
| 2001 | 80.0% | +0.2% |
| 2002 | 80.1% | +0.2% |
| 2003 | 80.2% | +0.1% |
| 2004 | 80.3% | +0.1% |
| 2005 | 80.4% | +0.1% |
| 2006 | 80.5% | +0.1% |
| 2007 | 80.6% | +0.1% |
| 2008 | 80.8% | +0.1% |
| 2009 | 80.9% | +0.1% |
| 2010 | 81.0% | +0.2% |
| 2011 | 81.1% | +0.2% |
| 2012 | 81.3% | +0.2% |
| 2013 | 81.5% | +0.2% |
| 2014 | 81.6% | +0.2% |
| 2015 | 81.8% | +0.2% |
| 2016 | 82.0% | +0.2% |
| 2017 | 82.2% | +0.3% |
| 2018 | 82.4% | +0.3% |
| 2019 | 82.7% | +0.3% |
| 2020 | 82.9% | +0.3% |
| 2021 | 83.0% | +0.1% |
| 2022 | 83.1% | +0.1% |
| 2023 | 83.2% | +0.1% |
| 2024 | 83.2% | +0.1% |
| 2025 | 83.3% | +0.1% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 83.3% is above the median for high income countries, which is 81.3%, 1.0× the median. (85 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 83.3% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 69.6%, 1.2× the median. (56 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Do more people live in urban or rural areas? in United Kingdom changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1710 | +201.0% | 2.1% | 6.3% |
| 1720 | +66.8% | 6.3% | 10.5% |
| 1730 | +40.0% | 10.5% | 14.8% |
| 1200 | -29.0% | 3.1% | 2.2% |
| 1100 | +29.2% | 2.4% | 3.1% |
| 1740 | +28.6% | 14.8% | 19.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 2.4% | 2.4% | 2.4% | 1 |
| 1100s | 3.1% | 3.1% | 3.1% | 1 |
| 1200s | 2.2% | 2.2% | 2.2% | 1 |
| 1300s | 2.2% | 2.2% | 2.2% | 1 |
| 1400s | 2.5% | 2.5% | 2.5% | 1 |
| 1500s | 2.1% | 2.1% | 2.1% | 1 |
| 1600s | 2.1% | 2.1% | 2.1% | 1 |
| 1700s | 2.1% | 2.1% | 2.1% | 1 |
| 1710s | 6.3% | 6.3% | 6.3% | 1 |
| 1720s | 10.5% | 10.5% | 10.5% | 1 |
| 1730s | 14.8% | 14.8% | 14.8% | 1 |
| 1740s | 19.0% | 19.0% | 19.0% | 1 |
| 1750s | 23.2% | 23.2% | 23.2% | 1 |
| 1760s | 24.3% | 24.3% | 24.3% | 1 |
| 1770s | 25.4% | 25.4% | 25.4% | 1 |
| 1780s | 26.5% | 26.5% | 26.5% | 1 |
| 1790s | 27.6% | 27.6% | 27.6% | 1 |
| 1800s | 28.7% | 28.7% | 28.7% | 1 |
| 1810s | 32.1% | 32.1% | 32.1% | 1 |
| 1820s | 35.4% | 35.4% | 35.4% | 1 |
| 1830s | 38.8% | 38.8% | 38.8% | 1 |
| 1840s | 42.1% | 42.1% | 42.1% | 1 |
| 1850s | 45.5% | 45.5% | 45.5% | 1 |
| 1860s | 48.8% | 48.8% | 48.8% | 1 |
| 1870s | 52.2% | 52.2% | 52.2% | 1 |
| 1880s | 55.5% | 55.5% | 55.5% | 1 |
| 1890s | 58.9% | 58.9% | 58.9% | 1 |
| 1900s | 62.2% | 62.2% | 62.2% | 1 |
| 1910s | 65.6% | 65.6% | 65.6% | 1 |
| 1920s | 68.9% | 68.9% | 68.9% | 1 |
| 1930s | 72.3% | 72.3% | 72.3% | 1 |
| 1940s | 75.6% | 75.6% | 75.6% | 1 |
| 1950s | 79.7% | 78.8% | 80.3% | 10 |
| 1960s | 77.7% | 77.0% | 78.6% | 10 |
| 1970s | 77.5% | 76.9% | 78.5% | 10 |
| 1980s | 78.4% | 78.1% | 78.6% | 10 |
| 1990s | 78.7% | 78.1% | 79.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 80.4% | 79.8% | 80.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 81.8% | 81.0% | 82.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 83.1% | 82.9% | 83.3% | 6 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
- 57 Saudi Arabia 84.6% compare
- 58 New Zealand 84.0% compare
- 59 Norway 83.6% compare
- 61 Canada 82.9% compare
- 62 Germany 82.1% compare
- 63 Falkland Islands 81.5% compare
More reference data data for United Kingdom
- 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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is do more people live in urban or rural areas? in United Kingdom?
- Do more people live in urban or rural areas? in United Kingdom was 83.3% in 2025, according to HYDE (2023); United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest do more people live in urban or rural areas? recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 83.3% in 2025.
- What is the lowest do more people live in urban or rural areas? recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.1% in 1500.
- How does United Kingdom rank for do more people live in urban or rural areas??
- United Kingdom ranks 60th out of 238 countries with data for 2025.
- Is do more people live in urban or rural areas? rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United Kingdom data come from?
- The figures come from HYDE (2023); United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Do more people live in urban or rural areas?. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 108 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Share of the population living in urban areas, combining UN estimates with modeled historical data.