Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income) | Urban population growth (annual %)
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. 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: 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.
Publisher
The World Bank
Origin
Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income)
Records
63
Source
Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income) | Urban population growth (annual %)
1960
3.30802143 1961
3.2428064 1962
3.18695319 1963
3.13754759 1964
3.08745146 1965
2.76447701 1966
2.73660888 1967
2.687718 1968
2.61484555 1969
2.49967916 1970
2.38354262 1971
2.3280927 1972
2.28387116 1973
2.24642243 1974
2.15969401 1975
2.15128377 1976
2.1086547 1977
2.06834736 1978
1.90598165 1979
1.74633633 1980
1.92370596 1981
1.96248075 1982
1.97445369 1983
2.05376457 1984
2.00115459 1985
1.89566992 1986
1.8498334 1987
1.80318196 1988
1.39379533 1989
0.93484895 1990
0.85409143 1991
0.63218371 1992
0.47040652 1993
0.35658468 1994
0.2786575 1995
0.30278714 1996
0.27321004 1997
0.25177054 1998
0.19302647 1999
0.20312946 2000
0.21288696 2001
0.24403203 2002
0.34054338 2003
0.4102296 2004
0.44025698 2005
0.48093413 2006
0.48230256 2007
0.70257364 2008
0.78844639 2009
0.85813489 2010
0.83478889 2011
0.76759583 2012
0.81951977 2013
0.8339709 2014
0.8587933 2015
0.84792003 2016
0.79759583 2017
0.76634354 2018
0.78903896 2019
0.61672188 2020
0.6936859 2021
-0.71399155 2022
Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income) | Urban population growth (annual %)
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. 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: 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.
Publisher
The World Bank
Origin
Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income)
Records
63
Source