Euro area - Urban population

The value for Urban population in Euro area was 265,472,200 as of 2020. As the graph below shows, over the past 60 years this indicator reached a maximum value of 265,472,200 in 2020 and a minimum value of 164,665,900 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 164,665,900
1961 167,440,700
1962 170,318,100
1963 173,439,800
1964 176,562,500
1965 179,694,800
1966 182,738,500
1967 185,581,900
1968 188,236,300
1969 190,705,200
1970 192,924,100
1971 195,114,400
1972 197,403,300
1973 199,574,700
1974 201,599,100
1975 203,392,800
1976 204,966,400
1977 206,512,100
1978 208,082,000
1979 209,667,700
1980 211,297,200
1981 212,831,300
1982 213,888,000
1983 214,652,100
1984 215,221,600
1985 215,791,200
1986 216,603,500
1987 217,721,500
1988 218,940,400
1989 220,211,000
1990 221,681,300
1991 223,220,700
1992 224,726,400
1993 226,165,000
1994 227,399,900
1995 228,549,300
1996 229,700,800
1997 230,802,300
1998 231,837,200
1999 233,000,200
2000 234,371,100
2001 235,934,900
2002 237,878,100
2003 239,986,900
2004 242,114,400
2005 244,169,600
2006 246,100,100
2007 248,142,100
2008 250,114,900
2009 251,691,300
2010 253,060,500
2011 253,272,100
2012 254,552,200
2013 256,110,500
2014 257,664,900
2015 259,162,900
2016 260,648,900
2017 261,954,000
2018 263,300,300
2019 264,349,500
2020 265,472,200

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