Greece - Urban population (% of total population)

Urban population (% of total population) in Greece was 79.72 as of 2020. Its highest value over the past 60 years was 79.72 in 2020, while its lowest value was 55.94 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 55.94
1961 56.45
1962 57.34
1963 58.22
1964 59.10
1965 59.97
1966 60.83
1967 61.69
1968 62.54
1969 63.39
1970 64.22
1971 64.95
1972 65.45
1973 65.95
1974 66.45
1975 66.94
1976 67.43
1977 67.91
1978 68.39
1979 68.87
1980 69.34
1981 69.75
1982 69.94
1983 70.13
1984 70.33
1985 70.52
1986 70.71
1987 70.90
1988 71.09
1989 71.28
1990 71.47
1991 71.64
1992 71.76
1993 71.88
1994 72.00
1995 72.12
1996 72.24
1997 72.36
1998 72.48
1999 72.60
2000 72.72
2001 72.91
2002 73.30
2003 73.69
2004 74.07
2005 74.45
2006 74.83
2007 75.20
2008 75.57
2009 75.93
2010 76.29
2011 76.65
2012 77.00
2013 77.36
2014 77.70
2015 78.05
2016 78.39
2017 78.72
2018 79.06
2019 79.39
2020 79.72

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