Ireland - Urban population

The value for Urban population in Ireland was 3,173,531 as of 2020. As the graph below shows, over the past 60 years this indicator reached a maximum value of 3,173,531 in 2020 and a minimum value of 1,278,075 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 1,278,075
1961 1,282,080
1962 1,293,324
1963 1,306,885
1964 1,319,272
1965 1,330,262
1966 1,347,250
1967 1,387,226
1968 1,427,337
1969 1,469,698
1970 1,516,360
1971 1,563,915
1972 1,597,717
1973 1,634,072
1974 1,672,099
1975 1,710,683
1976 1,747,737
1977 1,782,727
1978 1,819,520
1979 1,855,360
1980 1,888,405
1981 1,921,042
1982 1,944,867
1983 1,964,356
1984 1,982,219
1985 1,991,056
1986 1,997,341
1987 2,002,008
1988 1,997,871
1989 1,994,394
1990 2,000,470
1991 2,017,094
1992 2,038,731
1993 2,056,779
1994 2,072,766
1995 2,091,287
1996 2,116,049
1997 2,146,414
1998 2,178,016
1999 2,211,944
2000 2,250,951
2001 2,296,510
2002 2,345,367
2003 2,394,915
2004 2,450,379
2005 2,515,791
2006 2,595,694
2007 2,680,715
2008 2,744,952
2009 2,782,090
2010 2,806,411
2011 2,827,835
2012 2,849,043
2013 2,873,286
2014 2,903,635
2015 2,940,510
2016 2,983,355
2017 3,026,107
2018 3,074,684
2019 3,128,618
2020 3,173,531

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