Euro area - Urban population (% of total population)

Urban population (% of total population) in Euro area was 77.46 as of 2020. Its highest value over the past 60 years was 77.46 in 2020, while its lowest value was 62.09 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 62.09
1961 62.57
1962 63.06
1963 63.61
1964 64.17
1965 64.72
1966 65.27
1967 65.82
1968 66.31
1969 66.73
1970 67.14
1971 67.53
1972 67.87
1973 68.18
1974 68.48
1975 68.73
1976 68.95
1977 69.20
1978 69.44
1979 69.68
1980 69.92
1981 70.16
1982 70.32
1983 70.43
1984 70.50
1985 70.55
1986 70.64
1987 70.81
1988 70.97
1989 71.07
1990 71.22
1991 71.38
1992 71.53
1993 71.70
1994 71.88
1995 72.06
1996 72.23
1997 72.41
1998 72.58
1999 72.75
2000 72.94
2001 73.15
2002 73.39
2003 73.64
2004 73.89
2005 74.13
2006 74.37
2007 74.60
2008 74.82
2009 75.05
2010 75.28
2011 75.51
2012 75.72
2013 75.93
2014 76.13
2015 76.34
2016 76.55
2017 76.77
2018 76.99
2019 77.23
2020 77.46

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