Urban Population vs. GDP per Person at PPP by Country
Countries with higher GDP per Person at PPP tend to have higher Urban Population.
Strong link: a correlation of 0.65 across 184 countries.CorrelationHow closely two metrics move together, from −1 to +1. Near +1: both rise together. Near −1: one rises as the other falls. Near 0: no clear link.More in the glossary →
Each dot in the chart is one of 184 countries. The correlation between GDP per Person at PPP (on a log scale) and Urban Population is 0.65, a strong relationship: about 42% of the differences in Urban Population from place to place line up with GDP per Person at PPP. Ranked instead of measured, the link is 0.66.
The highest Urban Population is in Hong Kong (100.0%), Singapore (100.0%) and Kuwait (100.0%); the lowest is in Papua New Guinea (15.8%), Samoa (17.5%) and Malawi (17.6%). The median place has 63.4% for Urban Population and $20,451 for GDP per Person at PPP.
The biggest exceptions sit furthest from the trend line. Palestine, Nauru and Jordan have a much higher Urban Population than their GDP per Person at PPP would predict, while Guyana, Antigua and Barbuda and Sri Lanka have a much lower one.
This is a comparison across places, not proof that one causes the other: both can follow from something else, such as income, age or how urban a place is. GDP per Person at PPP is from 2025 and Urban Population from 2025.
Highest Urban Population
| Place | Urban Population | GDP per Person at PPP |
|---|---|---|
| Hong Kong | 100.0% | $80,423 |
| Singapore | 100.0% | $163,354 |
| Kuwait | 100.0% | $56,468 |
| Bahrain | 100.0% | $70,997 |
| Macau | 100.0% | $137,031 |
Lowest Urban Population
| Place | Urban Population | GDP per Person at PPP |
|---|---|---|
| Papua New Guinea | 15.8% | $5,215 |
| Samoa | 17.5% | $9,319 |
| Malawi | 17.6% | $1,899 |
| Niger | 18.4% | $2,177 |
| Sri Lanka | 20.5% | $17,065 |
Explore it yourself
- Open this comparison in the interactive chart to highlight places, change the metrics or colour by party.
- Full ranking and sources for GDP per Person at PPP
- Full ranking and sources for Urban Population