European Union Urban Population

The European Union’s urban population share has risen steadily over the 66‑year span from 58.43 % in 1960 to an all‑time peak of 75.14 % in 2025, placing the bloc at rank 73 globally. This 16.71‑percentage‑point increase reflects persistent rural‑to‑urban migration, the expansion of metropolitan infrastructure, and the integration of new member states with already high urbanisation rates. The EU’s 2025 figure of 75.14 % is marginally below the Russian Federation’s 75.20 % and above Brunei Darussalam’s 74.90 %, underscoring its position among the most urbanised economies. The upward trajectory aligns with broader European trends of densifying cities and declining agricultural employment, while policy initiatives such as the European Green Deal aim to balance growth with sustainability. Unless disruptive factors such as large‑scale de‑industrialisation or demographic reversal emerge, the EU’s urban share is likely to continue edging upward, albeit at a slower pace as the pool of rural residents dwindles.