In recent decades, the world has witnessed dramatic urbanization1,2. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has a great influence on global urbanization1,3. We still lack detailed information about the decline of urban expansion in different countries and regions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic4,5. Therefore, this study selected 468 representative cities, examining global urban expansion trends during the pre-pandemic (2018-2019) and post-pandemic (2020-2022) periods. The urban perspective reveals a mean 45.88% decrease in the urban expansion rate, with 46% of cities facing severe urban expansion slowdown. Cities in lower-middle-urban-area, high-income, and upper-middle-population groups are disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The analysis of the relationship between urban expansion slowdown and anti-contagion policies identifies significant variations among countries. Germany, Mexico, and Italy experience more severe impacts on urban expansion under stringent policies, while China, India, and Brazil observe less effect. United Nations subregions, Eastern Asia and Northern America, with the largest urban areas, witnessed notable reductions in urban expansion due to the pandemic, highlighting diverse global impacts on urban development. The study estimates a 90,315 km2 decrease in global urban expansion area during the post-pandemic period, constituting 46.38% of the projected expansion area in the absence of the pandemic.