Australia Urban Population
Urban population as % of total SP.URB.TOTL.IN.ZS
Australia's urban population was 87.66% in 2025, ranked 41st globally. This represents a 0.1% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1960–2025.
Overview
Australia's urban population stood at 87.66% in 2025, a rise of +0.06% from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 87.66% by 2025. Australia ranked 41st globally.
Australia’s urban population share has risen steadily over the 66‑year series, moving from a trough of 81.59 % in 1960 to an all‑time peak of 87.66 % in 2025, the highest value recorded in the dataset. The 2025 figure places the country at rank 41 globally, just below Belgium’s 87.70 % and marginally above the West Bank and Gaza’s 87.38 %, indicating that Australia’s level of urbanisation is comparable to other highly urbanised economies. The incremental increase of roughly 6.07 percentage points across six decades reflects sustained migration to cities, the expansion of metropolitan infrastructure and the declining share of the population engaged in primary‑sector activities. While the upward trajectory has been consistent, future shifts could arise from policies promoting regional development, remote work adoption or significant changes in housing affordability, any of which might temper the pace of urban concentration.
Data & projection
| Year | Urban Population | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027* trend | 87.84% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 87.75% | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 87.66% | - | - |
| 2025 | 87.66% | +0.06% | #41 |
| 2024 | 87.60% | +0.12% | #176 |
| 2023 | 87.49% | +0.15% | #176 |
| 2022 | 87.33% | +0.10% | #176 |
| 2021 | 87.24% | −0.04% | #177 |
| 2020 | 87.27% | −0.03% | #177 |
| 2019 | 87.30% | +0.08% | #179 |
| 2018 | 87.23% | +0.10% | #179 |
| 2017 | 87.13% | +0.11% | #179 |
| 2016 | 87.02% | +0.14% | #180 |
| 2015 | 86.88% | +0.16% | #180 |
| 2014 | 86.72% | +0.15% | #181 |
| 2013 | 86.57% | +0.13% | #182 |
| 2012 | 86.45% | +0.12% | #182 |
| 2011 | 86.33% | +0.11% | #182 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Australia matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2021. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw urban population improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Australia's urban population was 87.66% in 2025. Ranked 41st globally. This represents a 0.1% increase from the previous year.
Australia's urban population peaked at 87.66% in 2025.
The lowest urban population in Australia was 81.59% in 1960.
Australia ranks 41st globally in urban population as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SP.URB.TOTL.IN.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Australia's urban population is projected to reach 87.66% by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The urban population of Australia in 2025 was 87.66%. This ranks 41st in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_australia_urban-population,
title = {Australia Urban Population},
url = {https://historysaid.com/australia/urban-population/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}