Population in the largest city in European Union
European Union: Population in the largest city was 16.1% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Latest (2025)
16.1%
Change on year
up 0.0%
Rank
31st
of 43 groups
All-time high
16.2%
in 1960
All-time low
15.4%
in 2005
Years of data
66
1960–2025
Population in the largest city in European Union, 1960–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN). Measured in % of urban population.
Analysis
The most recent figure for population in the largest city in European Union is 16.1%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of up 2.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population in the largest city in European Union peaked at 16.2% in 1960 and was at its lowest, 15.4%, in 2005.
European Union ranks 31st of 43 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Population in the largest city in European Union, year by year
| Year | % of urban population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 16.2% | — |
| 1961 | 16.2% | -0.1% |
| 1962 | 16.1% | -0.2% |
| 1963 | 16.1% | -0.4% |
| 1964 | 16.0% | -0.5% |
| 1965 | 15.9% | -0.5% |
| 1966 | 15.8% | -0.4% |
| 1967 | 15.8% | -0.3% |
| 1968 | 15.8% | -0.1% |
| 1969 | 15.8% | -0.0% |
| 1970 | 15.8% | +0.2% |
| 1971 | 15.8% | -0.1% |
| 1972 | 15.7% | -0.3% |
| 1973 | 15.7% | -0.2% |
| 1974 | 15.7% | -0.1% |
| 1975 | 15.7% | +0.0% |
| 1976 | 15.7% | -0.0% |
| 1977 | 15.7% | +0.0% |
| 1978 | 15.7% | +0.1% |
| 1979 | 15.7% | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 15.6% | -0.2% |
| 1981 | 15.6% | -0.2% |
| 1982 | 15.6% | -0.3% |
| 1983 | 15.6% | -0.1% |
| 1984 | 15.6% | -0.0% |
| 1985 | 15.6% | +0.1% |
| 1986 | 15.6% | +0.1% |
| 1987 | 15.6% | +0.4% |
| 1988 | 15.6% | -0.1% |
| 1989 | 15.6% | +0.2% |
| 1990 | 15.6% | -0.0% |
| 1991 | 15.6% | -0.1% |
| 1992 | 15.6% | -0.2% |
| 1993 | 15.5% | -0.3% |
| 1994 | 15.5% | -0.2% |
| 1995 | 15.5% | -0.1% |
| 1996 | 15.5% | -0.2% |
| 1997 | 15.4% | -0.3% |
| 1998 | 15.4% | -0.2% |
| 1999 | 15.4% | -0.1% |
| 2000 | 15.4% | -0.1% |
| 2001 | 15.4% | -0.1% |
| 2002 | 15.4% | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 15.4% | -0.0% |
| 2004 | 15.4% | -0.0% |
| 2005 | 15.4% | -0.0% |
| 2006 | 15.4% | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 15.4% | +0.1% |
| 2008 | 15.4% | +0.1% |
| 2009 | 15.4% | +0.2% |
| 2010 | 15.5% | +0.3% |
| 2011 | 15.6% | +0.6% |
| 2012 | 15.6% | +0.3% |
| 2013 | 15.7% | +0.4% |
| 2014 | 15.7% | +0.4% |
| 2015 | 15.8% | +0.3% |
| 2016 | 15.8% | +0.2% |
| 2017 | 15.9% | +0.4% |
| 2018 | 15.9% | +0.4% |
| 2019 | 16.0% | +0.2% |
| 2020 | 16.0% | +0.4% |
| 2021 | 16.1% | +0.5% |
| 2022 | 16.1% | +0.1% |
| 2023 | 16.1% | -0.1% |
| 2024 | 16.1% | -0.1% |
| 2025 | 16.1% | +0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 15.9% | 15.8% | 16.2% | 10 |
| 1970s | 15.7% | 15.7% | 15.8% | 10 |
| 1980s | 15.6% | 15.6% | 15.6% | 10 |
| 1990s | 15.5% | 15.4% | 15.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 15.4% | 15.4% | 15.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 15.7% | 15.5% | 16.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 16.1% | 16.0% | 16.1% | 6 |
Countries ranked near European Union
- 28 Egypt 45.4% compare
- 29 Georgia 45.1% compare
- 30 Kyrgyzstan 45.1% compare
- 31 Lebanon 44.7% compare
- 32 Dominican Republic 43.7% compare
- 33 Afghanistan 42.9% compare
- 34 Bangladesh 42.2% compare
More urban development data for European Union
- Population density 112.55 people per sq. km of land area (2023)
- PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure 11.01 micrograms per cubic meter (2023)
- PM2.5 air pollution, population exposed to levels exceeding WHO 79.8% (2017)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population in the largest city in European Union?
- Population in the largest city in European Union was 16.1% in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest population in the largest city recorded in European Union?
- The highest recorded value was 16.2% in 1960.
- What is the lowest population in the largest city recorded in European Union?
- The lowest recorded value was 15.4% in 2005.
- How does European Union rank for population in the largest city?
- European Union ranks 31st out of 43 groups with data for 2025.
- Is population in the largest city rising or falling in European Union?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this European Union data come from?
- The figures come from World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN), published as part of Population in the largest city (% of urban population). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Population in largest city is the percentage of a country's urban population living in that country's largest metropolitan area.