| Year | Population* | Urban Percentage | Urban Settlements |
| 1921 | 2,298,000 | 7.8 | - |
| 1931 | 3,163,000 | 9.4 | - |
| 1948 | 4,118,000 | 13.9 | 41 |
| 1960 | 6,727,000 | 23.1 | 98 |
| 1970 | 8,559,000 | 28.9 | 135 |
| 1984 | 12,296,000 | 31.3 | 203 |
| 2000 | 18,912,000 | 43.9 | 364 |
| 2010 | 24,659,000 | 50.9 | 423** |
| 2014** | 28,357,850 | 51.9 | 548 |