Netherlands - Urban population (% of total population)

Urban population (% of total population) in Netherlands was 92.24 as of 2020. Its highest value over the past 60 years was 92.24 in 2020, while its lowest value was 59.75 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 59.75
1961 60.02
1962 60.20
1963 60.39
1964 60.57
1965 60.75
1966 60.94
1967 61.12
1968 61.30
1969 61.48
1970 61.66
1971 61.91
1972 62.23
1973 62.55
1974 62.87
1975 63.18
1976 63.50
1977 63.81
1978 64.12
1979 64.44
1980 64.75
1981 65.10
1982 65.51
1983 65.92
1984 66.32
1985 66.72
1986 67.12
1987 67.51
1988 67.91
1989 68.30
1990 68.68
1991 69.33
1992 70.22
1993 71.10
1994 71.96
1995 72.81
1996 73.64
1997 74.45
1998 75.25
1999 76.03
2000 76.80
2001 77.83
2002 79.11
2003 80.34
2004 81.51
2005 82.63
2006 83.64
2007 84.54
2008 85.40
2009 86.29
2010 87.13
2011 87.88
2012 88.59
2013 89.19
2014 89.69
2015 90.17
2016 90.64
2017 91.08
2018 91.49
2019 91.88
2020 92.24

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