Central Europe and the Baltics - Urban population

The value for Urban population in Central Europe and the Baltics was 63,921,150 as of 2020. As the graph below shows, over the past 60 years this indicator reached a maximum value of 68,052,850 in 1991 and a minimum value of 40,681,000 in 1960.

Definition: Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated using World Bank population estimates and urban ratios from the United Nations World Urbanization Prospects. Aggregation of urban and rural population may not add up to total population because of different country coverages.

Source: World Bank staff estimates based on the United Nations Population Division's World Urbanization Prospects: 2018 Revision.

See also:

Year Value
1960 40,681,000
1961 41,695,960
1962 42,661,010
1963 43,668,380
1964 44,715,040
1965 45,698,220
1966 46,636,160
1967 47,617,000
1968 48,588,170
1969 49,515,470
1970 50,340,800
1971 51,239,080
1972 52,332,720
1973 53,454,190
1974 54,624,940
1975 55,847,600
1976 57,068,800
1977 58,276,910
1978 59,441,880
1979 60,500,960
1980 61,480,860
1981 62,310,690
1982 63,085,440
1983 63,847,360
1984 64,598,200
1985 65,326,020
1986 66,038,490
1987 66,740,000
1988 67,399,070
1989 67,791,920
1990 67,987,260
1991 68,052,850
1992 67,931,520
1993 67,857,620
1994 67,813,740
1995 67,686,510
1996 67,515,750
1997 67,363,660
1998 67,218,740
1999 67,078,010
2000 66,669,590
2001 66,206,030
2002 65,839,890
2003 65,682,780
2004 65,551,570
2005 65,430,710
2006 65,329,210
2007 65,168,160
2008 65,021,940
2009 64,961,670
2010 64,768,520
2011 64,654,500
2012 64,524,890
2013 64,402,920
2014 64,285,250
2015 64,165,140
2016 64,046,460
2017 63,954,110
2018 63,915,980
2019 63,935,710
2020 63,921,150

Development Relevance: Explosive growth of cities globally signifies the demographic transition from rural to urban, and is associated with shifts from an agriculture-based economy to mass industry, technology, and service. In principle, cities offer a more favorable setting for the resolution of social and environmental problems than rural areas. Cities generate jobs and income, and deliver education, health care and other services. Cities also present opportunities for social mobilization and women's empowerment.

Limitations and Exceptions: Aggregation of urban and rural population may not add up to total population because of different country coverage. There is no consistent and universally accepted standard for distinguishing urban from rural areas, in part because of the wide variety of situations across countries. Most countries use an urban classification related to the size or characteristics of settlements. Some define urban areas based on the presence of certain infrastructure and services. And other countries designate urban areas based on administrative arrangements. Because of national differences in the characteristics that distinguish urban from rural areas, the distinction between urban and rural population is not amenable to a single definition that would be applicable to all countries. Estimates of the world's urban population would change significantly if China, India, and a few other populous nations were to change their definition of urban centers. Because the estimates of city and metropolitan area are based on national definitions of what constitutes a city or metropolitan area, cross-country comparisons should be made with caution.

Statistical Concept and Methodology: Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. The indicator is calculated using World Bank population estimates and urban ratios from the United Nations World Urbanization Prospects. To estimate urban populations, UN ratios of urban to total population were applied to the World Bank's estimates of total population. Countries differ in the way they classify population as "urban" or "rural." The population of a city or metropolitan area depends on the boundaries chosen.

Aggregation method: Sum

Periodicity: Annual

Classification

Topic: Environment Indicators

Sub-Topic: Density & urbanization