Estonia - Urban population

The value for Urban population in Estonia was 920,385 as of 2020. As the graph below shows, over the past 60 years this indicator reached a maximum value of 1,119,881 in 1989 and a minimum value of 697,034 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 697,034
1961 714,269
1962 733,452
1963 753,250
1964 773,863
1965 794,190
1966 812,599
1967 828,812
1968 846,346
1969 865,089
1970 883,329
1971 901,671
1972 919,299
1973 935,590
1974 951,152
1975 966,085
1976 980,438
1977 995,091
1978 1,009,340
1979 1,020,447
1980 1,029,784
1981 1,040,236
1982 1,050,928
1983 1,061,357
1984 1,071,506
1985 1,081,872
1986 1,093,150
1987 1,104,917
1988 1,115,040
1989 1,119,881
1990 1,117,738
1991 1,109,251
1992 1,086,348
1993 1,055,960
1994 1,030,882
1995 1,009,954
1996 992,487
1997 978,597
1998 966,608
1999 966,817
2000 969,061
2001 961,159
2002 953,352
2003 945,646
2004 938,279
2005 931,205
2006 924,006
2007 918,084
2008 913,914
2009 910,446
2010 906,655
2011 902,194
2012 899,089
2013 897,846
2014 897,427
2015 899,949
2016 902,145
2017 905,267
2018 910,578
2019 916,207
2020 920,385

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