Central Europe and the Baltics - Urban population (% of total population)

Urban population (% of total population) in Central Europe and the Baltics was 62.56 as of 2020. Its highest value over the past 60 years was 62.56 in 2020, while its lowest value was 44.51 in 1960.

Definition: Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. The data are collected and smoothed by United Nations Population Division.

Source: United Nations Population Division. World Urbanization Prospects: 2018 Revision.

See also:

Year Value
1960 44.51
1961 45.21
1962 45.87
1963 46.53
1964 47.21
1965 47.88
1966 48.51
1967 49.07
1968 49.64
1969 50.22
1970 50.78
1971 51.43
1972 52.15
1973 52.87
1974 53.59
1975 54.29
1976 54.99
1977 55.71
1978 56.43
1979 57.10
1980 57.71
1981 58.16
1982 58.56
1983 58.96
1984 59.35
1985 59.75
1986 60.13
1987 60.51
1988 60.89
1989 61.18
1990 61.39
1991 61.60
1992 61.69
1993 61.67
1994 61.64
1995 61.61
1996 61.59
1997 61.56
1998 61.53
1999 61.51
2000 61.48
2001 61.50
2002 61.56
2003 61.60
2004 61.65
2005 61.70
2006 61.76
2007 61.84
2008 61.92
2009 61.99
2010 62.03
2011 62.06
2012 62.08
2013 62.10
2014 62.11
2015 62.14
2016 62.18
2017 62.25
2018 62.33
2019 62.44
2020 62.56

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. Percentages urban are the numbers of persons residing in an area defined as ''urban'' per 100 total population. They are calculated by the Statistics Division of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs. Particular caution should be used in interpreting the figures for percentage urban for different countries. 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: Weighted average

Periodicity: Annual

Classification

Topic: Environment Indicators

Sub-Topic: Density & urbanization