Portugal - Urban population

The value for Urban population in Portugal was 6,827,994 as of 2020. As the graph below shows, over the past 60 years this indicator reached a maximum value of 6,827,994 in 2020 and a minimum value of 3,096,215 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 3,096,215
1961 3,155,977
1962 3,212,831
1963 3,260,048
1964 3,296,372
1965 3,317,422
1966 3,326,794
1967 3,340,014
1968 3,360,136
1969 3,364,185
1970 3,368,354
1971 3,388,093
1972 3,416,874
1973 3,451,945
1974 3,535,188
1975 3,708,226
1976 3,852,629
1977 3,931,481
1978 4,012,458
1979 4,094,541
1980 4,178,517
1981 4,257,857
1982 4,335,210
1983 4,407,052
1984 4,476,013
1985 4,540,496
1986 4,596,999
1987 4,648,117
1988 4,695,891
1989 4,741,470
1990 4,783,459
1991 4,827,626
1992 4,889,660
1993 4,961,312
1994 5,040,624
1995 5,124,278
1996 5,210,104
1997 5,299,934
1998 5,393,642
1999 5,491,367
2000 5,597,602
2001 5,704,057
2002 5,800,192
2003 5,886,957
2004 5,966,051
2005 6,041,725
2006 6,117,343
2007 6,193,886
2008 6,267,228
2009 6,337,144
2010 6,403,809
2011 6,457,743
2012 6,494,283
2013 6,520,333
2014 6,546,012
2015 6,578,828
2016 6,617,169
2017 6,659,350
2018 6,706,183
2019 6,764,658
2020 6,827,994

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