Norway - Urban population

The value for Urban population in Norway was 4,463,566 as of 2020. As the graph below shows, over the past 60 years this indicator reached a maximum value of 4,463,566 in 2020 and a minimum value of 1,787,755 in 1960.

Definition: Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated using World Bank population estimates and urban ratios from the United Nations World Urbanization Prospects. Aggregation of urban and rural population may not add up to total population because of different country coverages.

Source: World Bank staff estimates based on the United Nations Population Division's World Urbanization Prospects: 2018 Revision.

See also:

Year Value
1960 1,787,755
1961 1,840,926
1962 1,915,999
1963 1,991,003
1964 2,066,761
1965 2,143,353
1966 2,220,995
1967 2,299,864
1968 2,379,197
1969 2,457,954
1970 2,534,594
1971 2,584,983
1972 2,624,297
1973 2,662,165
1974 2,698,139
1975 2,732,467
1976 2,764,638
1977 2,795,553
1978 2,825,403
1979 2,854,061
1980 2,882,201
1981 2,902,056
1982 2,918,125
1983 2,933,210
1984 2,946,922
1985 2,961,159
1986 2,977,158
1987 2,996,568
1988 3,018,161
1989 3,036,098
1990 3,051,994
1991 3,079,741
1992 3,114,713
1993 3,150,384
1994 3,185,372
1995 3,216,511
1996 3,244,905
1997 3,280,785
1998 3,324,794
1999 3,371,823
2000 3,414,033
2001 3,447,513
2002 3,482,266
2003 3,518,773
2004 3,554,092
2005 3,591,141
2006 3,632,998
2007 3,684,159
2008 3,744,286
2009 3,805,760
2010 3,867,496
2011 3,935,476
2012 4,008,535
2013 4,078,226
2014 4,145,335
2015 4,207,493
2016 4,265,348
2017 4,320,306
2018 4,368,945
2019 4,418,218
2020 4,463,566

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. To estimate urban populations, UN ratios of urban to total population were applied to the World Bank's estimates of total population. 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: Sum

Periodicity: Annual

Classification

Topic: Environment Indicators

Sub-Topic: Density & urbanization