Ireland - Urban population (% of total population)

Urban population (% of total population) in Ireland was 63.65 as of 2020. Its highest value over the past 60 years was 63.65 in 2020, while its lowest value was 45.18 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 45.18
1961 45.39
1962 45.60
1963 45.81
1964 46.02
1965 46.23
1966 46.64
1967 47.80
1968 48.96
1969 50.12
1970 51.28
1971 52.27
1972 52.61
1973 52.95
1974 53.29
1975 53.63
1976 53.98
1977 54.32
1978 54.66
1979 54.99
1980 55.33
1981 55.63
1982 55.79
1983 55.96
1984 56.12
1985 56.28
1986 56.43
1987 56.55
1988 56.68
1989 56.80
1990 56.93
1991 57.07
1992 57.29
1993 57.51
1994 57.73
1995 57.95
1996 58.17
1997 58.42
1998 58.66
1999 58.91
2000 59.16
2001 59.40
2002 59.65
2003 59.93
2004 60.20
2005 60.48
2006 60.74
2007 60.94
2008 61.14
2009 61.34
2010 61.54
2011 61.74
2012 61.94
2013 62.14
2014 62.34
2015 62.54
2016 62.74
2017 62.95
2018 63.17
2019 63.41
2020 63.65

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