Uzbekistan Accelerates Urbanization: Majority of Population Expected to Live in Cities and Towns by 2050

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — According to the United Nations report World Urbanization Prospects 2025, Uzbekistan is expected to experience a significant demographic shift with expanding urban development in the coming decades.

The report, prepared by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) using the Degree of Urbanization (DoU) methodology, provides estimates and projections up to 2050.

As of 2025, Uzbekistan’s population stands at approximately 37.05 million, making it the most populous country in Central Asia. Of this population, 52.2% live in rural areas, 28.3% in small towns, and 19.5% in large cities.

Projections for 2050 indicate a sustained trend toward urbanization. The share of residents in large cities is expected to rise to 23.5%, while the population of small towns will grow to 29.7%, and the rural population will decrease to 46.8%.

This means that by mid-century, the absolute majority of the population will reside in urban and suburban areas, requiring intensified infrastructure development and rational land use planning.

Alongside demographic growth, the physical expansion of urban areas is proceeding rapidly. The built-up area in large cities increased from 598.9 km² in 2000 to 1,168.4 km² in 2025, with an average building density remaining moderate at 72 m² per person.

These data are crucial for the implementation of UN Sustainable Development Goal 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) and provide a foundation for long-term strategies aimed at enhancing the environmental sustainability, resilience, and competitiveness of Uzbekistan’s cities.