United Kingdom — Urban population
Urban Population (% of Total) for United Kingdom, 1960–2025.
Urban population for United Kingdom was 83.32% in 2025, according to the latest World Bank data. The series covers 66 years, from 1960 to 2025. The latest year is also the highest value on record for this series. The lowest was 76.90% in 1971 (about 1.1× the low point). Across that span the compound annual growth rate works out to 0.09% per year.
United Kingdom ranks 50 of 217 economies on this measure (1 = highest), putting it in the top 23%. The median for Europe & Central Asia is 69.60%, so United Kingdom sits above it. Over the last decade (2015–2025) the figure moved up 2%. Within Europe & Central Asia it ranks 15 of 58 economies; Germany (82.14%) is just below it.
Data highlights
World ranking. Slipped: 18th of 217 in 1960 → 29th of 217 in 1970 → 33rd of 217 in 1980 → 39th of 217 in 1990 → 43rd of 217 in 2000 → 50th of 217 in 2010 → 48th of 217 in 2020 → 50th of 217 in 2025.
Key figures
Full history — 1960 to 2025
| Year | % of total population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 83.32% | +0.1 pp |
| 2024 | 83.24% | +0.1 pp |
| 2023 | 83.16% | +0.1 pp |
| 2022 | 83.08% | +0.1 pp |
| 2021 | 82.99% | +0.1 pp |
| 2020 | 82.9% | +0.2 pp |
| 2019 | 82.67% | +0.2 pp |
| 2018 | 82.45% | +0.2 pp |
| 2017 | 82.23% | +0.2 pp |
| 2016 | 82.02% | +0.2 pp |
| 2015 | 81.82% | +0.2 pp |
| 2014 | 81.64% | +0.2 pp |
| 2013 | 81.46% | +0.2 pp |
| 2012 | 81.29% | +0.2 pp |
| 2011 | 81.14% | +0.1 pp |
| 2010 | 81% | +0.1 pp |
| 2009 | 80.87% | +0.1 pp |
| 2008 | 80.75% | +0.1 pp |
| 2007 | 80.65% | +0.1 pp |
| 2006 | 80.55% | +0.1 pp |
| 2005 | 80.45% | +0.1 pp |
| 2004 | 80.34% | +0.1 pp |
| 2003 | 80.23% | +0.1 pp |
| 2002 | 80.11% | +0.1 pp |
| 2001 | 79.98% | +0.2 pp |
| 2000 | 79.82% | +0.2 pp |
| 1999 | 79.62% | +0.2 pp |
| 1998 | 79.39% | +0.2 pp |
| 1997 | 79.14% | +0.2 pp |
| 1996 | 78.9% | +0.2 pp |
| 1995 | 78.66% | +0.2 pp |
| 1994 | 78.45% | +0.2 pp |
| 1993 | 78.27% | +0.1 pp |
| 1992 | 78.15% | +0.1 pp |
| 1991 | 78.1% | -0.0 pp |
| 1990 | 78.11% | -0.0 pp |
| 1989 | 78.14% | -0.1 pp |
| 1988 | 78.2% | -0.1 pp |
| 1987 | 78.26% | -0.1 pp |
| 1986 | 78.33% | -0.1 pp |
| 1985 | 78.41% | -0.1 pp |
| 1984 | 78.48% | -0.1 pp |
| 1983 | 78.54% | -0.0 pp |
| 1982 | 78.58% | -0.0 pp |
| 1981 | 78.6% | +0.0 pp |
| 1980 | 78.57% | +0.1 pp |
| 1979 | 78.46% | +0.2 pp |
| 1978 | 78.28% | +0.2 pp |
| 1977 | 78.05% | +0.3 pp |
| 1976 | 77.8% | +0.3 pp |
| 1975 | 77.55% | +0.2 pp |
| 1974 | 77.31% | +0.2 pp |
| 1973 | 77.11% | +0.1 pp |
| 1972 | 76.97% | +0.1 pp |
| 1971 | 76.9% | -0.0 pp |
| 1970 | 76.92% | -0.1 pp |
| 1969 | 76.99% | -0.1 pp |
| 1968 | 77.09% | -0.1 pp |
| 1967 | 77.24% | -0.2 pp |
| 1966 | 77.41% | -0.2 pp |
| 1965 | 77.59% | -0.2 pp |
| 1964 | 77.79% | -0.2 pp |
| 1963 | 77.99% | -0.2 pp |
| 1962 | 78.19% | -0.2 pp |
| 1961 | 78.37% | -0.2 pp |
| 1960 | 78.55% | — |
Frequently asked questions
What was United Kingdom’s Urban population in 1961?
78.37% (1961). The full year-by-year table above lists every published year, most recent first.
Are changes in this series measured in percentage points?
Yes. The series is a share expressed in % of total population, so year-over-year movements in the Change column are percentage points (pp), not percent.
Is United Kingdom’s Urban population growing or shrinking?
Between 1960 and 2025 the series was growing overall: +6.1% in total — about 0.1% a year compounded.
Where does this data come from?
World Bank Open Data (CC BY-4.0), indicator SP.URB.TOTL.IN.ZS. Values are reproduced as published; this page only computes summary statistics such as change, CAGR and extremes.
What are the most recent published figures?
The last five published years: 2025: 83.32%; 2024: 83.24%; 2023: 83.16%; 2022: 83.08%; 2021: 82.99%. Earlier years are in the full-history table below.
Related data
SP.URB.TOTL.IN.ZS — Urban Population (% of Total). Data licensed under CC BY 4.0. Values are reproduced as published; this page computes the summary statistics (change, CAGR, extremes) from the underlying annual series. View the original dataset on data.worldbank.org.