The data represents the rates of citizens living in urban areas worldwide and across 6 different regions in 1975 and 2020, along with an estimate for 2050.
Overall, a marked trend towards higher rates of urbanization can be seen along almost all of the regions, although some slight variations in levels and rates are evident.
From 1975 to 2020, global population rates grew from under 40% to just over 55% and it is expected to exceed two-thirds by 2050. Just below the world’s initial rate in 1975, Africa and Asia recorded the lowest urban population with around a quarter (25%). In 2020, the figure stood up to around 43% and 50%, respectively. By 2050, a further increase of around 15% is expected for these regions, which will remain the least urbanized.
In contrast, the remaining regions had higher rates overall. In 1975, Latin American’s urbanization rate was the lowest with 60% and North America’s was the highest, just under three-quarters (75%), whereas Europe and Oceania had rates in between, with around 65% and 70%, respectively. In 2020, these rates had only gone up, where Latin America overtook Europe, with the exception of Oceania which slightly decreased around 3%. By 2050, it is estimated that all regions will grow around 10%, where North America will remain which the highest rate, just under 90%. Oceania, however, will only grow around 2%, remaining around 70% for population in urban areas.