Finland - Urban population

The value for Urban population in Finland was 4,728,699 as of 2020. As the graph below shows, over the past 60 years this indicator reached a maximum value of 4,728,699 in 2020 and a minimum value of 2,449,145 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 2,449,145
1961 2,512,483
1962 2,567,399
1963 2,623,429
1964 2,675,999
1965 2,722,631
1966 2,770,510
1967 2,823,091
1968 2,873,315
1969 2,908,731
1970 2,934,402
1971 2,975,881
1972 3,032,758
1973 3,088,806
1974 3,143,576
1975 3,195,817
1976 3,243,412
1977 3,289,888
1978 3,336,370
1979 3,381,500
1980 3,428,217
1981 3,481,318
1982 3,541,666
1983 3,603,091
1984 3,662,085
1985 3,716,264
1986 3,765,683
1987 3,812,087
1988 3,858,255
1989 3,906,513
1990 3,957,581
1991 4,003,120
1992 4,040,047
1993 4,073,879
1994 4,105,674
1995 4,135,420
1996 4,162,332
1997 4,187,218
1998 4,210,769
1999 4,232,899
2000 4,253,964
2001 4,273,258
2002 4,290,649
2003 4,307,931
2004 4,327,463
2005 4,349,276
2006 4,372,951
2007 4,398,523
2008 4,426,008
2009 4,454,167
2010 4,492,880
2011 4,543,014
2012 4,593,267
2013 4,629,925
2014 4,651,843
2015 4,669,930
2016 4,686,120
2017 4,699,884
2018 4,709,266
2019 4,717,991
2020 4,728,699

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