Urban population in Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income)
Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income): Urban population was 173.06 million in 2025. ▲ Rising
Urban population in Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income), 1960–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
Analysis
In 2025, urban population in Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income) stood at 173.06 million. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.2% on the previous year and up 7.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban population in Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income) peaked at 173.06 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 47.55 million, in 1960.
Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income) ranks 40th of 45 groups on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 66 years of available data.
Urban population in Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income), year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 47.55 million | — |
| 1961 | 49.50 million | +4.1% |
| 1962 | 51.23 million | +3.5% |
| 1963 | 53.03 million | +3.5% |
| 1964 | 54.91 million | +3.5% |
| 1965 | 56.84 million | +3.5% |
| 1966 | 58.83 million | +3.5% |
| 1967 | 60.95 million | +3.6% |
| 1968 | 63.17 million | +3.7% |
| 1969 | 65.40 million | +3.5% |
| 1970 | 67.50 million | +3.2% |
| 1971 | 69.65 million | +3.2% |
| 1972 | 71.97 million | +3.3% |
| 1973 | 74.25 million | +3.2% |
| 1974 | 76.48 million | +3.0% |
| 1975 | 78.74 million | +3.0% |
| 1976 | 81.00 million | +2.9% |
| 1977 | 83.23 million | +2.8% |
| 1978 | 85.57 million | +2.8% |
| 1979 | 87.67 million | +2.5% |
| 1980 | 89.84 million | +2.5% |
| 1981 | 91.98 million | +2.4% |
| 1982 | 94.19 million | +2.4% |
| 1983 | 96.56 million | +2.5% |
| 1984 | 98.98 million | +2.5% |
| 1985 | 101.36 million | +2.4% |
| 1986 | 103.79 million | +2.4% |
| 1987 | 106.28 million | +2.4% |
| 1988 | 108.79 million | +2.4% |
| 1989 | 111.09 million | +2.1% |
| 1990 | 113.10 million | +1.8% |
| 1991 | 114.81 million | +1.5% |
| 1992 | 116.39 million | +1.4% |
| 1993 | 117.66 million | +1.1% |
| 1994 | 118.61 million | +0.8% |
| 1995 | 119.42 million | +0.7% |
| 1996 | 120.27 million | +0.7% |
| 1997 | 121.10 million | +0.7% |
| 1998 | 121.78 million | +0.6% |
| 1999 | 122.70 million | +0.8% |
| 2000 | 123.96 million | +1.0% |
| 2001 | 125.17 million | +1.0% |
| 2002 | 126.46 million | +1.0% |
| 2003 | 127.88 million | +1.1% |
| 2004 | 129.32 million | +1.1% |
| 2005 | 130.71 million | +1.1% |
| 2006 | 132.23 million | +1.2% |
| 2007 | 133.49 million | +1.0% |
| 2008 | 135.38 million | +1.4% |
| 2009 | 137.46 million | +1.5% |
| 2010 | 139.73 million | +1.7% |
| 2011 | 142.26 million | +1.8% |
| 2012 | 145.63 million | +2.4% |
| 2013 | 150.62 million | +3.4% |
| 2014 | 156.05 million | +3.6% |
| 2015 | 160.41 million | +2.8% |
| 2016 | 162.78 million | +1.5% |
| 2017 | 164.40 million | +1.0% |
| 2018 | 166.19 million | +1.1% |
| 2019 | 168.41 million | +1.3% |
| 2020 | 170.12 million | +1.0% |
| 2021 | 171.65 million | +0.9% |
| 2022 | 170.76 million | -0.5% |
| 2023 | 169.53 million | -0.7% |
| 2024 | 170.94 million | +0.8% |
| 2025 | 173.06 million | +1.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 56.14 million | 47.55 million | 65.40 million | 10 |
| 1970s | 77.61 million | 67.50 million | 87.67 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 100.29 million | 89.84 million | 111.09 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 118.58 million | 113.10 million | 122.70 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 130.21 million | 123.96 million | 137.46 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 155.65 million | 139.73 million | 168.41 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 171.01 million | 169.53 million | 173.06 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income)
More climate change data for Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income)
- Population growth 1.1% (2025)
- Population, total 253.28 million (2025)
- Urban population growth 1.2% (2025)
- Urban population 68.3% (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million 24.7% (2025)
- Annual freshwater withdrawals, total 211.98 billion cubic meters (2022)
- Annual freshwater withdrawals, total 31.7% (2022)
- Terrestrial protected areas 11.1% (2025)
- Terrestrial and marine protected areas 11.4% (2025)
- Marine protected areas 14.3% (2025)
All data for Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income) →
Frequently asked questions
- What is urban population in Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income)?
- Urban population in Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income) was 173.06 million in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest urban population recorded in Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income)?
- The highest recorded value was 173.06 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest urban population recorded in Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income)?
- The lowest recorded value was 47.55 million in 1960.
- How does Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income) rank for urban population?
- Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income) ranks 40th out of 45 groups with data for 2025.
- Is urban population rising or falling in Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income)?
- Over the last ten years it is up 7.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income) data come from?
- The figures come from World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN), published as part of Urban population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
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. Aggregation of urban and rural population may not add up to total population because of different country coverages.