Urban population growth in Europe & Central Asia
Europe & Central Asia: Urban population growth was 0.6% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Urban population growth in Europe & Central Asia, 1961–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN). Measured in annual %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for urban population growth in Europe & Central Asia is 0.6%, measured in 2025.
The figure is down 2.0% on the previous year and down 46.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban population growth in Europe & Central Asia peaked at 2.2% in 1964 and was at its lowest, 0.1%, in 2022.
Europe & Central Asia ranks 40th of 45 groups on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Urban population growth in Europe & Central Asia, year by year
| Year | annual % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 2.2% | — |
| 1962 | 2.1% | -4.4% |
| 1963 | 2.1% | +3.4% |
| 1964 | 2.2% | +3.2% |
| 1965 | 2.1% | -2.4% |
| 1966 | 2.0% | -7.0% |
| 1967 | 1.9% | -3.7% |
| 1968 | 1.8% | -4.7% |
| 1969 | 1.8% | -1.8% |
| 1970 | 1.6% | -10.4% |
| 1971 | 1.5% | -5.3% |
| 1972 | 1.7% | +9.5% |
| 1973 | 1.6% | -3.0% |
| 1974 | 1.6% | -4.3% |
| 1975 | 1.4% | -9.4% |
| 1976 | 1.4% | -2.3% |
| 1977 | 1.3% | -7.0% |
| 1978 | 1.2% | -3.9% |
| 1979 | 1.2% | -2.9% |
| 1980 | 1.3% | +5.4% |
| 1981 | 1.1% | -10.4% |
| 1982 | 1.0% | -8.1% |
| 1983 | 1.0% | -3.4% |
| 1984 | 1.0% | -0.5% |
| 1985 | 1.0% | -2.3% |
| 1986 | 1.0% | +3.9% |
| 1987 | 1.0% | +0.4% |
| 1988 | 1.0% | -1.3% |
| 1989 | 0.9% | -5.8% |
| 1990 | 0.7% | -21.4% |
| 1991 | 0.6% | -12.7% |
| 1992 | 0.5% | -22.1% |
| 1993 | 0.4% | -12.5% |
| 1994 | 0.4% | -6.8% |
| 1995 | 0.4% | -10.0% |
| 1996 | 0.4% | +11.2% |
| 1997 | 0.4% | +1.3% |
| 1998 | 0.3% | -17.7% |
| 1999 | 0.3% | -18.4% |
| 2000 | 0.4% | +57.6% |
| 2001 | 0.4% | +0.3% |
| 2002 | 0.5% | +5.5% |
| 2003 | 0.5% | +15.4% |
| 2004 | 0.5% | -4.3% |
| 2005 | 0.5% | +0.2% |
| 2006 | 0.6% | +13.0% |
| 2007 | 0.6% | -2.3% |
| 2008 | 0.7% | +19.9% |
| 2009 | 0.7% | -3.0% |
| 2010 | 0.7% | +4.3% |
| 2011 | 0.6% | -19.9% |
| 2012 | 0.9% | +55.6% |
| 2013 | 1.1% | +29.4% |
| 2014 | 1.2% | +5.8% |
| 2015 | 1.1% | -10.5% |
| 2016 | 0.8% | -26.3% |
| 2017 | 0.5% | -31.9% |
| 2018 | 0.6% | +5.3% |
| 2019 | 0.6% | +12.4% |
| 2020 | 0.4% | -41.4% |
| 2021 | 0.2% | -32.2% |
| 2022 | 0.1% | -46.6% |
| 2023 | 0.2% | +59.2% |
| 2024 | 0.6% | +170.9% |
| 2025 | 0.6% | -2.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 2.0% | 1.8% | 2.2% | 9 |
| 1970s | 1.4% | 1.2% | 1.7% | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.0% | 0.9% | 1.3% | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.5% | 0.3% | 0.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.5% | 0.4% | 0.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.8% | 0.5% | 1.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.4% | 0.1% | 0.6% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Europe & Central Asia
More climate change data for Europe & Central Asia
- Population growth 0.4% (2025)
- Population, total 932.52 million (2025)
- Urban population 690.74 million (2025)
- Urban population 74.1% (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million 21.3% (2025)
- Annual freshwater withdrawals, total 476.01 billion cubic meters (2022)
- Annual freshwater withdrawals, total 6.7% (2022)
- Terrestrial protected areas 15.9% (2025)
- Terrestrial and marine protected areas 13.2% (2025)
- Marine protected areas 8.7% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is urban population growth in Europe & Central Asia?
- Urban population growth in Europe & Central Asia was 0.6% in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest urban population growth recorded in Europe & Central Asia?
- The highest recorded value was 2.2% in 1964.
- What is the lowest urban population growth recorded in Europe & Central Asia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.1% in 2022.
- How does Europe & Central Asia rank for urban population growth?
- Europe & Central Asia ranks 40th out of 45 groups with data for 2025.
- Is urban population growth rising or falling in Europe & Central Asia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 46.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Europe & Central Asia data come from?
- The figures come from World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN), published as part of Urban population growth (annual %). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Annual urban population growth rate for year t is the exponential rate of growth of midyear urban population from year t-1 to t, expressed as a percentage. Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated using World Bank total population estimates and urban ratios from the United Nations World Urbanization Prospects.