Estonia - Urban population (% of total population)

Urban population (% of total population) in Estonia was 69.23 as of 2020. Its highest value over the past 60 years was 71.42 in 1989, while its lowest value was 57.53 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 57.53
1961 58.30
1962 59.07
1963 59.84
1964 60.60
1965 61.35
1966 62.10
1967 62.84
1968 63.58
1969 64.31
1970 64.95
1971 65.48
1972 66.02
1973 66.55
1974 67.07
1975 67.59
1976 68.11
1977 68.62
1978 69.12
1979 69.50
1980 69.71
1981 69.92
1982 70.14
1983 70.35
1984 70.56
1985 70.77
1986 70.98
1987 71.18
1988 71.39
1989 71.42
1990 71.23
1991 71.05
1992 70.86
1993 70.67
1994 70.49
1995 70.30
1996 70.11
1997 69.92
1998 69.73
1999 69.54
2000 69.37
2001 69.24
2002 69.12
2003 68.99
2004 68.86
2005 68.74
2006 68.61
2007 68.48
2008 68.35
2009 68.22
2010 68.09
2011 67.97
2012 67.97
2013 68.12
2014 68.27
2015 68.42
2016 68.56
2017 68.72
2018 68.88
2019 69.05
2020 69.23

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