Urban population growth in European Union
European Union: Urban population growth was 0.4% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Urban population growth in European Union, 1961–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN). Measured in annual %.
Analysis
In 2025, urban population growth in European Union stood at 0.4%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 18.0% on the previous year and down 10.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban population growth in European Union peaked at 2.1% in 1964 and was at its lowest, -0.0%, in 2021.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Urban population growth in European Union, year by year
| Year | annual % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 1.8% | — |
| 1962 | 1.8% | +2.5% |
| 1963 | 1.9% | +5.3% |
| 1964 | 2.1% | +8.0% |
| 1965 | 2.0% | -2.2% |
| 1966 | 1.9% | -7.2% |
| 1967 | 1.8% | -7.7% |
| 1968 | 1.6% | -9.4% |
| 1969 | 1.5% | -3.6% |
| 1970 | 1.3% | -13.4% |
| 1971 | 1.2% | -5.8% |
| 1972 | 1.3% | +6.6% |
| 1973 | 1.3% | -4.4% |
| 1974 | 1.2% | -5.0% |
| 1975 | 1.0% | -17.7% |
| 1976 | 1.0% | +0.5% |
| 1977 | 0.9% | -7.1% |
| 1978 | 0.8% | -10.7% |
| 1979 | 0.8% | +0.7% |
| 1980 | 1.0% | +17.4% |
| 1981 | 0.8% | -16.7% |
| 1982 | 0.6% | -20.6% |
| 1983 | 0.6% | -10.4% |
| 1984 | 0.5% | -7.7% |
| 1985 | 0.5% | -10.5% |
| 1986 | 0.5% | +13.8% |
| 1987 | 0.6% | +2.1% |
| 1988 | 0.6% | +4.0% |
| 1989 | 0.6% | +0.5% |
| 1990 | 0.5% | -9.2% |
| 1991 | 0.5% | -9.0% |
| 1992 | 0.5% | -1.7% |
| 1993 | 0.5% | +6.6% |
| 1994 | 0.4% | -14.9% |
| 1995 | 0.4% | -18.7% |
| 1996 | 0.4% | +12.2% |
| 1997 | 0.5% | +14.6% |
| 1998 | 0.3% | -24.7% |
| 1999 | 0.3% | -2.2% |
| 2000 | 0.4% | +14.8% |
| 2001 | 0.5% | +21.6% |
| 2002 | 0.5% | +7.2% |
| 2003 | 0.6% | +14.4% |
| 2004 | 0.6% | +2.9% |
| 2005 | 0.6% | +2.8% |
| 2006 | 0.6% | -6.8% |
| 2007 | 0.5% | -6.3% |
| 2008 | 0.5% | -1.3% |
| 2009 | 0.4% | -17.8% |
| 2010 | 0.4% | -10.6% |
| 2011 | -0.0% | -101.7% |
| 2012 | 0.3% | -5320.2% |
| 2013 | 0.3% | -0.7% |
| 2014 | 0.3% | -0.7% |
| 2015 | 0.4% | +31.9% |
| 2016 | 0.5% | +12.3% |
| 2017 | 0.3% | -41.4% |
| 2018 | 0.3% | +20.8% |
| 2019 | 0.4% | +6.3% |
| 2020 | 0.1% | -69.4% |
| 2021 | -0.0% | -112.4% |
| 2022 | 0.4% | -2808.9% |
| 2023 | 0.5% | +45.5% |
| 2024 | 0.5% | -13.2% |
| 2025 | 0.4% | -18.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 1.8% | 1.5% | 2.1% | 9 |
| 1970s | 1.1% | 0.8% | 1.3% | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.6% | 0.5% | 1.0% | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.4% | 0.3% | 0.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.5% | 0.4% | 0.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.3% | -0.0% | 0.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.3% | -0.0% | 0.5% | 6 |
Countries ranked near European Union
More climate change data for European Union
- Population growth 0.2% (2025)
- Population, total 451.13 million (2025)
- Urban population 339.13 million (2025)
- Urban population 75.2% (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million 17.8% (2025)
- Annual freshwater withdrawals, total 186.14 billion cubic meters (2022)
- Annual freshwater withdrawals, total 13.7% (2022)
- Terrestrial protected areas 26.6% (2025)
- Terrestrial and marine protected areas 21.1% (2025)
- Marine protected areas 16.8% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is urban population growth in European Union?
- Urban population growth in European Union was 0.4% in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest urban population growth recorded in European Union?
- The highest recorded value was 2.1% in 1964.
- What is the lowest urban population growth recorded in European Union?
- The lowest recorded value was -0.0% in 2021.
- How does European Union rank for urban population growth?
- European Union ranks 2nd out of 4 regions with data for 2025.
- Is urban population growth rising or falling in European Union?
- Over the last ten years it is down 10.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this European Union 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.