Belgium - Urban population

The value for Urban population in Belgium was 11,322,480 as of 2020. As the graph below shows, over the past 60 years this indicator reached a maximum value of 11,322,480 in 2020 and a minimum value of 8,463,316 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 8,463,316
1961 8,500,111
1962 8,545,539
1963 8,624,158
1964 8,720,520
1965 8,814,176
1966 8,887,919
1967 8,951,328
1968 9,000,174
1969 9,039,007
1970 9,061,057
1971 9,090,451
1972 9,138,742
1973 9,179,915
1974 9,221,059
1975 9,259,701
1976 9,288,043
1977 9,319,769
1978 9,348,049
1979 9,375,266
1980 9,403,844
1981 9,418,778
1982 9,426,273
1983 9,435,379
1984 9,444,896
1985 9,457,075
1986 9,469,618
1987 9,486,775
1988 9,525,797
1989 9,569,207
1990 9,606,261
1991 9,650,427
1992 9,697,796
1993 9,743,821
1994 9,781,788
1995 9,810,102
1996 9,836,805
1997 9,868,070
1998 9,896,510
1999 9,926,274
2000 9,956,937
2001 9,997,106
2002 10,047,700
2003 10,095,560
2004 10,144,980
2005 10,206,490
2006 10,279,410
2007 10,360,590
2008 10,448,110
2009 10,537,700
2010 10,639,650
2011 10,784,160
2012 10,856,360
2013 10,912,670
2014 10,966,160
2015 11,034,730
2016 11,095,620
2017 11,143,220
2018 11,198,630
2019 11,263,910
2020 11,322,480

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