Austria - Urban population

The value for Urban population in Austria was 5,238,479 as of 2020. As the graph below shows, over the past 60 years this indicator reached a maximum value of 5,238,479 in 2020 and a minimum value of 4,561,167 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 4,561,167
1961 4,592,914
1962 4,624,644
1963 4,658,034
1964 4,692,726
1965 4,726,878
1966 4,763,809
1967 4,803,163
1968 4,831,802
1969 4,852,163
1970 4,872,871
1971 4,897,890
1972 4,927,193
1973 4,955,326
1974 4,964,528
1975 4,952,131
1976 4,944,146
1977 4,946,802
1978 4,943,554
1979 4,935,890
1980 4,936,650
1981 4,947,212
1982 4,930,765
1983 4,902,840
1984 4,882,418
1985 4,864,664
1986 4,847,469
1987 4,830,238
1988 4,816,676
1989 4,817,928
1990 4,833,974
1991 4,861,464
1992 4,893,935
1993 4,912,877
1994 4,910,076
1995 4,895,821
1996 4,880,469
1997 4,864,091
1998 4,847,335
1999 4,834,637
2000 4,824,004
2001 4,820,068
2002 4,821,291
2003 4,822,095
2004 4,829,142
2005 4,839,033
2006 4,839,801
2007 4,832,038
2008 4,823,638
2009 4,812,679
2010 4,800,510
2011 4,792,887
2012 4,817,487
2013 4,861,991
2014 4,916,377
2015 4,988,134
2016 5,058,968
2017 5,110,858
2018 5,153,759
2019 5,196,085
2020 5,238,479

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