Urban population growth in Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries)
Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries): Urban population growth was 0.7% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Urban population growth in Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries), 1961–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN). Measured in annual %.
Analysis
In 2025, urban population growth in Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries) stood at 0.7%.
The figure is up 48.3% on the previous year and down 54.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban population growth in Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries) peaked at 3.3% in 1961 and was at its lowest, -0.4%, in 2023.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 2.8% | 2.6% | 3.3% | 9 |
| 1970s | 2.3% | 1.9% | 2.6% | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.7% | 1.4% | 1.9% | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.4% | 0.1% | 0.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.4% | 0.2% | 0.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.1% | 0.6% | 1.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.1% | -0.4% | 0.7% | 6 |
More climate change data for Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries)
- Population growth 0.6% (2025)
- Population, total 462.56 million (2025)
- Urban population 319.88 million (2025)
- Urban population 69.2% (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million 22.0% (2025)
- Annual freshwater withdrawals, total 300.46 billion cubic meters (2022)
- Annual freshwater withdrawals, total 5.8% (2022)
- Terrestrial protected areas 12.1% (2025)
- Terrestrial and marine protected areas 9.8% (2025)
- Marine protected areas 3.4% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is urban population growth in Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- Urban population growth in Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries) was 0.7% in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest urban population growth recorded in Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- The highest recorded value was 3.3% in 1961.
- What is the lowest urban population growth recorded in Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- The lowest recorded value was -0.4% in 2023.
- Is urban population growth rising or falling in Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- Over the last ten years it is down 54.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries) 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.
Download this data
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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.