Data / Rankings / Urban population share / EU countries

EU countries by share of urban population

Malta had the highest share of urban population of 27 EU countries in 2023, at 95.6%. Romania had the lowest, at 52.2%. The median was 70.7%. Source: the World Bank.

Highest95.6Malta
Lowest52.2Romania
Median70.727 EU countries

All EU countries, 2023

CSVChart (SVG)

MaltaMalta: 95.6 %95.6NetherlandsNetherlands: 95.3 %95.3LuxembourgLuxembourg: 94.8 %94.8SwedenSweden: 88.6 %88.6DenmarkDenmark: 88.6 %88.6BelgiumBelgium: 87.6 %87.6GermanyGermany: 81.9 %81.9SpainSpain: 80.1 %80.1FranceFrance: 78.8 %78.8GreeceGreece: 78.8 %78.8FinlandFinland: 74 %74BulgariaBulgaria: 73.7 %73.7CzechiaCzechia: 72.7 %72.7EstoniaEstonia: 70.7 %70.7HungaryHungary: 70.3 %70.3ItalyItaly: 69.5 %69.5AustriaAustria: 69.2 %69.2LithuaniaLithuania: 68.6 %68.6LatviaLatvia: 68.4 %68.4CyprusCyprus: 66.7 %66.7IrelandIreland: 64.1 %64.1PortugalPortugal: 61.2 %61.2PolandPoland: 59.9 %59.9CroatiaCroatia: 57.2 %57.2SloveniaSlovenia: 55.5 %55.5SlovakiaSlovakia: 53.2 %53.2RomaniaRomania: 52.2 %52.2
%. Source: World Bank. Retrieved 2026-10-09.

Full ranking

RankEU countries2023 (%)Change on 2022
1Malta95.60 pts
2Netherlands95.3+0.3 pts
3Luxembourg94.80 pts
4Sweden88.6+0.2 pts
5Denmark88.6+0.2 pts
6Belgium87.6+0.1 pts
7Germany81.9+0.1 pts
8Spain80.1+0.2 pts
9France78.80 pts
10Greece78.8+0.2 pts
11Finland74+0.3 pts
12Bulgaria73.7+0.3 pts
13Czechia72.70 pts
14Estonia70.7+0.2 pts
15Hungary70.3+0.1 pts
16Italy69.5+0.1 pts
17Austria69.2+0.2 pts
18Lithuania68.6+0.3 pts
19Latvia68.4+0.1 pts
20Cyprus66.70 pts
21Ireland64.1+0.2 pts
22Portugal61.2+0.1 pts
23Poland59.9+0.1 pts
24Croatia57.2+0.2 pts
25Slovenia55.5+0.2 pts
26Slovakia53.20 pts
27Romania52.20 pts

Other periods

About this ranking

People living in urban areas, as each national statistical office defines them, as a percentage of total population. World Bank series based on the UN World Urbanization Prospects.

Countries define urban areas differently, so shares are only roughly comparable between countries.

Every value in the ranking comes from the same publisher and the same period, so the EU countries are compared on one definition. Equal values share a rank.

How to cite

World Bank, World Development Indicators. Urban population, % of total population (SP.URB.TOTL.IN.ZS). https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.URB.TOTL.IN.ZS. Retrieved 2026-10-09.

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Questions

Which EU country has the highest share of urban population?

Malta, with 95.6% in 2023, according to the World Bank.

Which EU country has the lowest share of urban population?

Romania, with 52.2% in 2023.

Where does this ranking come from?

Every value comes from one source and one period, so the places are comparable: World Bank, Urban population, % of total population (SP.URB.TOTL.IN.ZS). Retrieved 2026-10-09.

Urban population share: other rankings

EU countries: more rankings