Low income Countries Ranked by Urban population share (2025)
Urban population share: each country's latest value (2020–2025), ranked from highest to lowest. Source: The World Bank (CC BY 4.0).
Summary
Syrian Arab Republic ranks #1 with 72.1% of population. Gambia, The is second with 65% of population, 10.9% behind. The top five are Syrian Arab Republic, Gambia, The, Korea, Dem. People's Rep., Liberia and Somalia, Fed. Rep.. The median across all 25 is 34.5% of population; Malawi is last at 17.6% of population. Syrian Arab Republic's figure has risen 38% since 2001 (52.3% of population to 72.1% of population in 2025).
- #1
- Syrian Arab Republic · 72.1% of population
- Median
- 34.5% of population
- Coverage
- 25 Low income countries
- Data year
- 2025
- Last updated
- 2026-11-14
Full ranking
| Rank | Country | Urban population share (% of population) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Syrian Arab Republic | 72.1 |
| 2 | Gambia, The | 65 |
| 3 | Korea, Dem. People's Rep. | 64.2 |
| 4 | Liberia | 56.1 |
| 5 | Somalia, Fed. Rep. | 55.1 |
| 6 | Guinea-Bissau | 46.7 |
| 7 | Sierra Leone | 45.9 |
| 8 | Congo, Dem. Rep. | 45.1 |
| 9 | Central African Republic | 44.6 |
| 10 | Mozambique | 37.2 |
| 11 | Yemen, Rep. | 37 |
| 12 | Sudan | 34.9 |
| 13 | Eritrea | 34.5 |
| 14 | Madagascar | 32.9 |
| 15 | Mali | 32.2 |
| 16 | Uganda | 31.9 |
| 17 | Rwanda | 30.9 |
| 18 | Burkina Faso | 28.9 |
| 19 | Chad | 27.6 |
| 20 | Afghanistan | 25.9 |
| 21 | Burundi | 25.7 |
| 22 | Ethiopia | 24.1 |
| 23 | South Sudan | 21.7 |
| 24 | Niger | 18.4 |
| 25 | Malawi | 17.6 |
About the top 10
#1 Syrian Arab Republic
Syrian Arab Republic ranks #1 on this list with 72.1% of population.
- Capital
- Damascus
- Continent
- Asia
- Income group
- Low income
- Population
- 25.62 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$23.74 billion (2022)
- GDP per person
- US$1,057 (2022)
- Life expectancy
- 72.6 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 72.1% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Damascus, Aleppo.
Also ranks #2 in refugee population by origin · #2 in agriculture value added share of gdp · #3 in net migration.
#2 Gambia, The
Gambia, The ranks #2 on this list with 65% of population.
- Capital
- Banjul
- Continent
- Africa
- Income group
- Low income
- Population
- 2.82 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$2.59 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$919.1 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 66.1 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 65% of population (2025)
Also ranks #2 in gender parity index (school enrolment) · #3 in arable land share · #7 in gross capital formation rate.
#3 Korea, Dem. People's Rep.
Korea, Dem. People's Rep. ranks #3 on this list with 64.2% of population.
- Capital
- Pyongyang
- Continent
- Asia
- Income group
- Low income
- Population
- 26.57 million people (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 73.7 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 64.2% of population (2025)
- CO2 emissions per person
- 2.5 t CO2e per person (2024)
- Currency
- North Korean won
Largest cities: Pyongyang.
Also ranks #2 in hospital beds per 10,000 · #3 in armed forces personnel · #6 in female labour force participation.
#4 Liberia
Liberia ranks #4 on this list with 56.1% of population.
- Capital
- Monrovia
- Continent
- Africa
- Income group
- Low income
- Population
- 5.73 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$5.25 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$915.3 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 62.3 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 56.1% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Monrovia.
Also ranks #2 in forest rents share of gdp · #3 in renewable energy share · #5 in infant mortality rate.
#5 Somalia, Fed. Rep.
Somalia, Fed. Rep. ranks #5 on this list with 55.1% of population.
- Capital
- Mogadishu
- Continent
- Africa
- Income group
- Low income
- Population
- 19.66 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$13 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$661.2 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 59 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 55.1% of population (2025)
Largest cities: North East State of Somalia, Mogadishu.
Also ranks #1 in prevalence of undernourishment · #2 in population ages 0-14 share · #2 in age dependency ratio (young).
#6 Guinea-Bissau
Guinea-Bissau ranks #6 on this list with 46.7% of population.
- Capital
- Bissau
- Continent
- Africa
- Income group
- Low income
- Population
- 2.25 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$2.53 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$1,124 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 64.3 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 46.7% of population (2025)
Also ranks #3 in agriculture value added share of gdp · #5 in forest rents share of gdp · #7 in low-birthweight babies share.
#7 Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone ranks #7 on this list with 45.9% of population.
- Capital
- Freetown
- Continent
- Africa
- Income group
- Low income
- Population
- 8.82 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$7.46 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$846.3 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 62 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 45.9% of population (2025)
Also ranks #1 in school enrolment (primary) · #7 in under-5 mortality rate · #8 in forest rents share of gdp.
#8 Congo, Dem. Rep.
Congo, Dem. Rep. ranks #8 on this list with 45.1% of population.
- Capital
- Kinshasa
- Continent
- Africa
- Income group
- Low income
- Population
- 112.83 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$91.03 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$806.8 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 62.1 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 45.1% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Kinshasa, Mbuji-Mayi, Kananga.
Also ranks #1 in renewable energy share · #1 in poverty headcount ratio · #1 in mineral rents share of gdp.
#9 Central African Republic
Central African Republic ranks #9 on this list with 44.6% of population.
- Capital
- Bangui
- Continent
- Africa
- Income group
- Low income
- Population
- 5.51 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$3.07 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$556.1 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 57.7 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 44.6% of population (2025)
Also ranks #1 in population ages 0-14 share · #1 in age dependency ratio · #1 in age dependency ratio (young).
#10 Mozambique
Mozambique ranks #10 on this list with 37.2% of population.
- Capital
- Maputo
- Continent
- Africa
- Income group
- Low income
- Population
- 35.63 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$22.34 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$626.9 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 63.8 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 37.2% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Maputo, Matola.
Also ranks #2 in poverty headcount ratio · #3 in income share of richest 10% · #4 in debt service share of exports.
Profile facts: World Bank (CC BY 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0); weather links go to Purr Weather, another ChowChow Labs site.
Source and method
Urban population share: each country's latest value (2020–2025), ranked from highest to lowest.
Source: The World Bank, indicator SP.URB.TOTL.IN.ZS. Licence: CC BY 4.0. Retrieved: 2026-11-14.
The World Bank: Urban population (% of total population): World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN) (via World Development Indicators)
Original data provider, as recorded by the World Bank: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
Values are shown as published. Provider terms: The World Bank. All licences: Sources & licences.