Sweden - Urban population (% of total population)

Urban population (% of total population) in Sweden was 87.98 as of 2020. Its highest value over the past 60 years was 87.98 in 2020, while its lowest value was 72.49 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 72.49
1961 73.30
1962 74.27
1963 75.22
1964 76.15
1965 77.06
1966 77.91
1967 78.73
1968 79.52
1969 80.29
1970 81.03
1971 81.56
1972 81.89
1973 82.20
1974 82.52
1975 82.73
1976 82.80
1977 82.87
1978 82.94
1979 83.02
1980 83.09
1981 83.10
1982 83.10
1983 83.10
1984 83.10
1985 83.10
1986 83.10
1987 83.10
1988 83.10
1989 83.10
1990 83.10
1991 83.20
1992 83.36
1993 83.52
1994 83.67
1995 83.82
1996 83.91
1997 83.94
1998 83.97
1999 84.00
2000 84.03
2001 84.07
2002 84.13
2003 84.20
2004 84.26
2005 84.32
2006 84.43
2007 84.59
2008 84.75
2009 84.90
2010 85.06
2011 85.30
2012 85.62
2013 85.94
2014 86.25
2015 86.55
2016 86.85
2017 87.15
2018 87.43
2019 87.71
2020 87.98

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