Urban population (% of total population) in European Union
European Union: Urban population (% of total population) was 75.2% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Urban population in European Union, 1960–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN). Measured in % of total population.
Analysis
The most recent figure for urban population in European Union is 75.2%, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.2% on the previous year and up 1.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban population in European Union peaked at 75.2% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 58.4%, in 1960.
European Union ranks 9th of 47 groups on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 66 years of available data.
Urban population (% of total population) in European Union, year by year
| Year | % of total population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 58.4% | — |
| 1961 | 59.0% | +1.0% |
| 1962 | 59.6% | +1.0% |
| 1963 | 60.2% | +1.1% |
| 1964 | 61.0% | +1.2% |
| 1965 | 61.7% | +1.2% |
| 1966 | 62.4% | +1.1% |
| 1967 | 63.0% | +1.0% |
| 1968 | 63.6% | +0.9% |
| 1969 | 64.1% | +0.8% |
| 1970 | 64.6% | +0.8% |
| 1971 | 65.1% | +0.7% |
| 1972 | 65.5% | +0.7% |
| 1973 | 65.9% | +0.6% |
| 1974 | 66.3% | +0.6% |
| 1975 | 66.6% | +0.4% |
| 1976 | 66.9% | +0.5% |
| 1977 | 67.2% | +0.4% |
| 1978 | 67.5% | +0.4% |
| 1979 | 67.7% | +0.4% |
| 1980 | 68.1% | +0.5% |
| 1981 | 68.4% | +0.4% |
| 1982 | 68.6% | +0.3% |
| 1983 | 68.8% | +0.3% |
| 1984 | 69.0% | +0.3% |
| 1985 | 69.2% | +0.2% |
| 1986 | 69.4% | +0.3% |
| 1987 | 69.6% | +0.3% |
| 1988 | 69.8% | +0.3% |
| 1989 | 69.9% | +0.2% |
| 1990 | 70.1% | +0.2% |
| 1991 | 70.2% | +0.2% |
| 1992 | 70.3% | +0.2% |
| 1993 | 70.4% | +0.2% |
| 1994 | 70.6% | +0.2% |
| 1995 | 70.7% | +0.2% |
| 1996 | 70.9% | +0.2% |
| 1997 | 71.1% | +0.3% |
| 1998 | 71.2% | +0.2% |
| 1999 | 71.3% | +0.2% |
| 2000 | 71.5% | +0.3% |
| 2001 | 71.8% | +0.3% |
| 2002 | 71.9% | +0.3% |
| 2003 | 72.1% | +0.2% |
| 2004 | 72.2% | +0.2% |
| 2005 | 72.4% | +0.2% |
| 2006 | 72.6% | +0.2% |
| 2007 | 72.7% | +0.2% |
| 2008 | 72.8% | +0.2% |
| 2009 | 72.9% | +0.2% |
| 2010 | 73.1% | +0.2% |
| 2011 | 73.2% | +0.1% |
| 2012 | 73.4% | +0.2% |
| 2013 | 73.5% | +0.3% |
| 2014 | 73.7% | +0.2% |
| 2015 | 73.9% | +0.2% |
| 2016 | 74.1% | +0.3% |
| 2017 | 74.2% | +0.1% |
| 2018 | 74.3% | +0.2% |
| 2019 | 74.5% | +0.2% |
| 2020 | 74.5% | +0.1% |
| 2021 | 74.6% | +0.1% |
| 2022 | 74.8% | +0.2% |
| 2023 | 74.9% | +0.2% |
| 2024 | 75.0% | +0.2% |
| 2025 | 75.2% | +0.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 61.3% | 58.4% | 64.1% | 10 |
| 1970s | 66.3% | 64.6% | 67.7% | 10 |
| 1980s | 69.1% | 68.1% | 69.9% | 10 |
| 1990s | 70.7% | 70.1% | 71.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 72.3% | 71.5% | 72.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 73.8% | 73.1% | 74.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 74.8% | 74.5% | 75.2% | 6 |
More climate change data for European Union
- Population, total, annual growth rate 0.1997 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population, total, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Urban population 339.13 million (2025)
- Urban population, per capita 0.7517 units per person (2025)
- Urban population, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Urban population, annual growth rate 0.3919 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population, total, per square kilometre 112.55 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Urban population, per square kilometre 84.3 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million 17.8% (2025)
- Annual freshwater withdrawals, total 186.14 billion cubic meters (2022)
Frequently asked questions
- What is urban population in European Union?
- Urban population in European Union was 75.2% in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest urban population recorded in European Union?
- The highest recorded value was 75.2% in 2025.
- What is the lowest urban population recorded in European Union?
- The lowest recorded value was 58.4% in 1960.
- How does European Union rank for urban population?
- European Union ranks 9th out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is urban population rising or falling in European Union?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this European Union data come from?
- The figures come from World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN), published as part of Urban population (% of total population). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
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.