Germany - Urban population (% of total population)

Urban population (% of total population) in Germany was 77.45 as of 2020. Its highest value over the past 60 years was 77.45 in 2020, while its lowest value was 71.38 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 71.38
1961 71.70
1962 71.76
1963 71.83
1964 71.89
1965 71.96
1966 72.02
1967 72.08
1968 72.15
1969 72.21
1970 72.27
1971 72.33
1972 72.39
1973 72.45
1974 72.50
1975 72.56
1976 72.62
1977 72.67
1978 72.73
1979 72.79
1980 72.84
1981 72.99
1982 73.11
1983 73.10
1984 72.94
1985 72.71
1986 72.62
1987 72.84
1988 73.00
1989 72.98
1990 73.12
1991 73.27
1992 73.36
1993 73.50
1994 73.71
1995 73.92
1996 74.13
1997 74.34
1998 74.55
1999 74.76
2000 74.97
2001 75.17
2002 75.37
2003 75.58
2004 75.78
2005 75.98
2006 76.18
2007 76.38
2008 76.58
2009 76.77
2010 76.97
2011 77.16
2012 77.17
2013 77.18
2014 77.19
2015 77.20
2016 77.22
2017 77.26
2018 77.31
2019 77.38
2020 77.45

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