Romania - Urban population

The value for Urban population in Romania was 10,436,420 as of 2020. As the graph below shows, over the past 60 years this indicator reached a maximum value of 12,404,520 in 1991 and a minimum value of 6,296,818 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 6,296,818
1961 6,474,669
1962 6,646,237
1963 6,820,612
1964 6,997,996
1965 7,174,333
1966 7,368,164
1967 7,586,123
1968 7,786,878
1969 7,968,040
1970 8,164,758
1971 8,352,002
1972 8,535,661
1973 8,713,690
1974 8,900,706
1975 9,120,255
1976 9,340,263
1977 9,560,064
1978 9,801,109
1979 10,019,800
1980 10,230,900
1981 10,456,990
1982 10,674,850
1983 10,876,410
1984 11,077,110
1985 11,284,890
1986 11,499,950
1987 11,720,960
1988 11,941,560
1989 12,160,690
1990 12,347,320
1991 12,404,520
1992 12,360,660
1993 12,309,020
1994 12,256,580
1995 12,197,110
1996 12,127,410
1997 12,058,030
1998 11,998,890
1999 11,945,690
2000 11,895,670
2001 11,697,190
2002 11,469,360
2003 11,415,410
2004 11,378,650
2005 11,336,530
2006 11,297,330
2007 11,159,030
2008 11,001,520
2009 10,936,930
2010 10,898,690
2011 10,871,610
2012 10,826,120
2013 10,778,600
2014 10,730,940
2015 10,678,040
2016 10,619,520
2017 10,565,370
2018 10,515,550
2019 10,476,960
2020 10,436,420

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