Top Urbanized Countries/Territories in 2025: Key Insights
Most urbanized countries or territories are illustrated in this write up. Article is updated with the latest 2025 UN DESA revision report :“World Urbanization Prospects 2025”. The report uses a combination of national definition and also the DEGURBA approach (Degree of Urbanization) developed by United Nations. This recent revision in 2025 is crucial. The UN has lowered the threshold for city population from 300K to 50K. This has affected the smaller nations, regions as they now are also getting counted into cities rather than in towns.
📌Key Takeaways
- Urbanization Measurement Approach: United Nations uses a standard approach to measure urbanization across the globe
- Major Definition Change in 2025: The UN has lowered the threshold for city population from 300K to 50K in 2025. This change impacts smaller nation/territories
- Most Urbanized Countries/Territories: Hong Kong (China), Singapore, Kuwait, Macau (China), Cayman Islands, Bermuda, Sint Gibraltor, Monaco and Anguilla are 100% urbanized
- GDP Connection with Urbanization: All 100% urbanized economies are listed in high income category by World Bank.
- Rapidly Urbanizing Countries: India, Nigeria, Pakistan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Bangladesh and Ethiopia are listed as rapidly urbanizing countries in 2025.
What is Urbanization and how it is calculated?
United nations had used the national definitions to calculate the urbanization percentage of an area. Nevertheless, as these definitions can differ from region to region or from country to country. In 2025, they have used a standardized approach know as DEGURBA (Degree of Urbanization) method. In this ,every square kilometer area is measured on population and it’s corresponding density. On the basis of this, the areas are classifies in below three categories:
✅Rural Areas: Areas which has a population density of less than 300 person per square kilometer.
✅Towns: Areas which has population density of 300 person per square kilometer and total population is greater that five thousand.
✅Cities: Areas which have a population density greater than 1,500 persons per square kilometer. They should also have a population of more than fifty thousand. Cities are further divided into further categories :very small ,small , medium, large city and mega cities.
For the urbanization calculation, the areas classifies under towns and cities are considered.
Impact of City Threshold Change In 2025
In 2025, as per major threshold change , the UN urbanization report has considered the high density areas with population of greater than 50K as cities. Previously, this definition use to have a threshold of 300K.
This threshold change has lead to increase in 1900 cities in 2024 to 12,000 in 2025. Similarly, the urban population ( dwelling in cities and towns) was 56% in 2024 and rose to 81% in 2025.
Most Urbanized Countries (the 100% club)
| Country/Territory | Urbanization % | Approx. GDP Per Capita(USD) | Income Classification (World Bank) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hong Kong(China) | 100% | $56,800 | High Income |
| Singapore | 100% | $94,000 | High Income |
| Kuwait | 100% | $45,400 | High Income |
| Macau (China) | 100% | $76,300 | High Income |
| Cayman Islands | 100% | $97,700 | High Income |
| Bermuda | 100% | $138,900 | High Income |
| Sint Maarten (Duch Part) | 100% | $40,000 | High Income |
| Gibraltor | 100% | NA | High Income |
| Monaco | 100% | $185,700 | High Income |
| Anguilla | 100% | $28,850 | High Income |
100% urbanized countries are listed above. They have no rural population.
GDP Trivia for 100% Urbanized Countries/Territories
For all the 100% urbanized countries and territories, the per capita income is listed under the ‘High Income’ category. This classification is according to the World Bank. This is an important insight to note and provides concurrence that higher per capita GDP can lead to urbanization. This seems to be particularly true for small countries and territories. More and more people flock to take advantage of the opportunities.
One of the exception to this is Gabon in Africa. The country has a higher degree of urbanization (91%) but has per capita income of around 6.6K USD only.
Rapidly Urbanizing Countries 2025
World Urbanization Prospects 2025 highlights the rapidly urbanizing countries. These include India, Nigeria, Pakistan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Bangladesh, and Ethiopia in 2025. All these countries have rapidly increasing population. Along with this, most of them are developing economies. They have seen an increase in their GDP per capita incomes in the last 5 years.
Conclusion
Rapid urbanization at one end signifies economic and human development. Yet on other end their are harmful effects on uncontrolled urbanization on climate. It has to be done in a planned and structured way. Nasa’s report on Urban Heat Island in 2025 has quantified the impact. An Urban Heat Island is found in built cities or urban structures. It can have a temperature higher by 2 -12+ °C (4-22 °F) when compared to adjacent rural areas.
Micro states and regions dominate a 100% urbanization rating. Larger countries, even if hugely urbanized, have some rural populations.
Related Readings: How does urbanization affect the economy? Check out our analysis of the $117 Trillion World Economy in 2025.
Data Sources Referenced:
- 2025 UN DESA revision report :“World Urbanization Prospects 2025” (WUP 2025)
- World Bank GDP Per Capita & Income Classfication
- Monaco Wikipedia
- United Nations -World Population Prospects historical and latest data
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