European Union - Urban population (% of total population)

Urban population (% of total population) in European Union was 74.96 as of 2020. Its highest value over the past 60 years was 74.96 in 2020, while its lowest value was 58.68 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 58.68
1961 59.22
1962 59.75
1963 60.34
1964 60.92
1965 61.51
1966 62.08
1967 62.62
1968 63.13
1969 63.58
1970 64.02
1971 64.47
1972 64.88
1973 65.27
1974 65.65
1975 65.99
1976 66.30
1977 66.62
1978 66.96
1979 67.28
1980 67.59
1981 67.86
1982 68.06
1983 68.22
1984 68.36
1985 68.48
1986 68.63
1987 68.84
1988 69.05
1989 69.20
1990 69.37
1991 69.56
1992 69.72
1993 69.85
1994 69.99
1995 70.13
1996 70.27
1997 70.40
1998 70.53
1999 70.67
2000 70.83
2001 71.01
2002 71.24
2003 71.46
2004 71.68
2005 71.90
2006 72.12
2007 72.34
2008 72.56
2009 72.76
2010 72.97
2011 73.17
2012 73.36
2013 73.54
2014 73.72
2015 73.91
2016 74.11
2017 74.31
2018 74.52
2019 74.74
2020 74.96

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