Italy - Urban population (% of total population)

Urban population (% of total population) in Italy was 71.04 as of 2020. Its highest value over the past 60 years was 71.04 in 2020, while its lowest value was 59.36 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 59.36
1961 59.86
1962 60.36
1963 60.85
1964 61.35
1965 61.84
1966 62.33
1967 62.82
1968 63.31
1969 63.79
1970 64.27
1971 64.75
1972 65.04
1973 65.24
1974 65.44
1975 65.64
1976 65.84
1977 66.04
1978 66.24
1979 66.44
1980 66.64
1981 66.84
1982 66.89
1983 66.87
1984 66.85
1985 66.83
1986 66.81
1987 66.79
1988 66.77
1989 66.75
1990 66.73
1991 66.71
1992 66.74
1993 66.80
1994 66.86
1995 66.92
1996 66.98
1997 67.04
1998 67.10
1999 67.16
2000 67.22
2001 67.28
2002 67.38
2003 67.50
2004 67.62
2005 67.74
2006 67.86
2007 67.97
2008 68.09
2009 68.21
2010 68.33
2011 68.44
2012 68.68
2013 68.98
2014 69.27
2015 69.57
2016 69.86
2017 70.14
2018 70.44
2019 70.74
2020 71.04

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