Poland - Urban population

The value for Urban population in Poland was 22,755,740 as of 2020. As the graph below shows, over the past 60 years this indicator reached a maximum value of 23,842,560 in 1999 and a minimum value of 14,193,970 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 14,193,970
1961 14,540,630
1962 14,828,740
1963 15,149,000
1964 15,484,710
1965 15,762,100
1966 16,007,140
1967 16,289,780
1968 16,575,560
1969 16,835,930
1970 17,026,270
1971 17,266,410
1972 17,626,600
1973 18,005,220
1974 18,398,450
1975 18,803,600
1976 19,215,140
1977 19,625,330
1978 20,007,320
1979 20,341,870
1980 20,663,600
1981 20,985,960
1982 21,314,750
1983 21,651,240
1984 21,984,900
1985 22,299,550
1986 22,589,780
1987 22,855,460
1988 23,089,200
1989 23,241,950
1990 23,350,480
1991 23,450,650
1992 23,539,560
1993 23,616,840
1994 23,684,070
1995 23,733,220
1996 23,768,660
1997 23,801,620
1998 23,827,140
1999 23,842,560
2000 23,611,700
2001 23,622,390
2002 23,621,400
2003 23,563,050
2004 23,506,500
2005 23,453,430
2006 23,396,240
2007 23,340,840
2008 23,300,940
2009 23,274,000
2010 23,165,020
2011 23,134,850
2012 23,086,830
2013 23,025,350
2014 22,960,230
2015 22,897,450
2016 22,849,640
2017 22,824,770
2018 22,806,880
2019 22,793,330
2020 22,755,740

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