The bar chart presents the percentage of the population living in cities worldwide and in different countries of the world in three different years: 1950, 2025, and 2025.
Overall, while the urban population has risen across all regions and is projected to increase further, particularly in North America, Latin America, and Europe, which represent the most urbanized parts of the world, Asia and Africa, despite having the lowest proportions, are expected to undergo the most rapid growth.
Focusing first on the highest proportions, North America showed a substantial and upward trend. In 1950, 64% of the population lived in the cities, a figure that is projected to surge to a staggering 79% in 2025 before reaching its peak at 87% in 2050. Similarly, Europe and Latin America exhibited the highest population shares, with respective figures at 51% and 42% in 1950. However, the figures have been reversed in the in 2025, with 72% by the former, just ahead of the latter with 78%. It is projecting that Latin America is projected to increase slightly to 84% compared to Europe’s 78%.
Turning to less urbanized countries, globally, the proportion of people living in cities has risen from 29% to 49% in 2025 after it is estimated to increase to 60% by the end of the period. Africa and Asia had the lowest urbanization shares. Initially, these countries exhibited respective figures of 15% and 17%. In 2025, with only a 5% difference between them with Africa 37% and Asia 41%. By 2050, it is expected to be 51 and 54, respectively.