Europe & Central Asia | 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
Records
63
Source
Europe & Central Asia | Urban population growth (annual %)
1960
2.11418875 1961
2.11153156 1962
2.13763609 1963
2.11424992 1964
2.07968981 1965
1.93432212 1966
1.88563096 1967
1.80356677 1968
1.7089442 1969
1.58161026 1970
1.53838484 1971
1.58619623 1972
1.52359786 1973
1.46451193 1974
1.3759879 1975
1.31634822 1976
1.29894827 1977
1.29398278 1978
1.22637055 1979
1.16429317 1980
1.17529762 1981
1.06298017 1982
1.01075538 1983
1.01466148 1984
1.00582639 1985
1.01371766 1986
1.05372837 1987
1.05365466 1988
0.87921131 1989
0.71601713 1990
0.70398492 1991
0.56941043 1992
0.49534445 1993
0.4143156 1994
0.35189294 1995
0.34458014 1996
0.32258979 1997
0.30834625 1998
0.30834717 1999
0.30439986 2000
0.35624435 2001
0.47354495 2002
0.56338955 2003
0.60489927 2004
0.61516915 2005
0.61848165 2006
0.63334785 2007
0.7165395 2008
0.69531023 2009
0.67338488 2010
0.49278382 2011
0.62110913 2012
0.68415941 2013
0.69525523 2014
0.70056845 2015
0.69448763 2016
0.64124515 2017
0.63373865 2018
0.59874649 2019
0.50696634 2020
0.41756909 2021
-0.0102614 2022
Europe & Central Asia | 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
Records
63
Source