Austria - Urban population (% of total population)

Urban population (% of total population) in Austria was 58.75 as of 2020. Its highest value over the past 60 years was 65.39 in 1980, while its lowest value was 57.12 in 2011.

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 64.72
1961 64.81
1962 64.86
1963 64.91
1964 64.96
1965 65.01
1966 65.06
1967 65.11
1968 65.16
1969 65.21
1970 65.26
1971 65.30
1972 65.31
1973 65.32
1974 65.33
1975 65.34
1976 65.35
1977 65.36
1978 65.37
1979 65.38
1980 65.39
1981 65.36
1982 65.10
1983 64.84
1984 64.57
1985 64.31
1986 64.04
1987 63.77
1988 63.50
1989 63.23
1990 62.96
1991 62.69
1992 62.42
1993 62.14
1994 61.87
1995 61.60
1996 61.32
1997 61.05
1998 60.77
1999 60.49
2000 60.21
2001 59.93
2002 59.66
2003 59.38
2004 59.09
2005 58.81
2006 58.53
2007 58.25
2008 57.97
2009 57.68
2010 57.40
2011 57.12
2012 57.15
2013 57.34
2014 57.53
2015 57.72
2016 57.91
2017 58.09
2018 58.30
2019 58.52
2020 58.75

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