Switzerland - Urban population (% of total population)

Urban population (% of total population) in Switzerland was 73.92 as of 2020. Its highest value over the past 60 years was 74.48 in 1980, while its lowest value was 70.92 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 70.92
1961 71.24
1962 71.54
1963 71.83
1964 72.13
1965 72.42
1966 72.71
1967 72.99
1968 73.28
1969 73.56
1970 73.84
1971 73.99
1972 74.05
1973 74.10
1974 74.15
1975 74.21
1976 74.26
1977 74.32
1978 74.37
1979 74.42
1980 74.48
1981 74.47
1982 74.41
1983 74.35
1984 74.29
1985 74.23
1986 74.17
1987 74.11
1988 74.05
1989 73.99
1990 73.93
1991 73.87
1992 73.82
1993 73.76
1994 73.71
1995 73.65
1996 73.60
1997 73.55
1998 73.49
1999 73.44
2000 73.38
2001 73.38
2002 73.40
2003 73.43
2004 73.45
2005 73.48
2006 73.50
2007 73.53
2008 73.56
2009 73.58
2010 73.61
2011 73.63
2012 73.65
2013 73.67
2014 73.70
2015 73.72
2016 73.74
2017 73.76
2018 73.80
2019 73.85
2020 73.92

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