World Urbanization Prospects 2025

Urbanization is reshaping the global landscape. Since 1950, the share of people living in urban areas has surged—and is projected to continue rising through 2050. This report presents highlights from the 2025 Revision of the World Urbanization Prospects, offering a concise overview of global, regional, and country-level trends from 1950 to 2050. At the center of this edition is the Degree of Urbanisation—a harmonized, spatial approach enabling meaningful international comparisons, alongside national definitions. The dataset includes estimates of urban and rural populations for 237 countries or areas from 1950 to 2025, with projections to 2050, and population figures for all cities with at least 50,000 inhabitants in 2025. Annex tables provide data on land use, population distribution, and change over time for rural areas, towns and cities. With clear visuals and accessible analysis, this report is a vital resource for understanding urban trends and supporting efforts to achieve sustainable, inclusive, and resilient cities.

Population · Resource (disambiguation) · Rural area · Rural population · Urbanization · World population · Global Development and Urbanization · Impact of Light on Environment and Health · Urban and Rural Development Challenges