Spain - Urban population (% of total population)

Urban population (% of total population) in Spain was 80.81 as of 2020. Its highest value over the past 60 years was 80.81 in 2020, while its lowest value was 56.57 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 56.57
1961 57.30
1962 58.31
1963 59.31
1964 60.30
1965 61.28
1966 62.25
1967 63.21
1968 64.17
1969 65.11
1970 66.04
1971 66.85
1972 67.54
1973 68.22
1974 68.90
1975 69.57
1976 70.23
1977 70.88
1978 71.53
1979 72.16
1980 72.79
1981 73.28
1982 73.52
1983 73.75
1984 73.98
1985 74.21
1986 74.44
1987 74.67
1988 74.90
1989 75.13
1990 75.35
1991 75.53
1992 75.61
1993 75.69
1994 75.77
1995 75.86
1996 75.94
1997 76.02
1998 76.10
1999 76.18
2000 76.26
2001 76.34
2002 76.53
2003 76.78
2004 77.02
2005 77.26
2006 77.50
2007 77.74
2008 77.98
2009 78.21
2010 78.44
2011 78.67
2012 78.90
2013 79.13
2014 79.37
2015 79.60
2016 79.84
2017 80.08
2018 80.32
2019 80.57
2020 80.81

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