Demographia

URBANIZED AREA (DEVELOPED AREA) DATA & ANALYSIS
 European Urbanized Areas Expand at
Lower Densities than the United States

This page is a part of the Demographia
International Urbanized Area Analysis and Data Product
Dated 29 July 2000 as Revised.
Permission is granted to use with attribution.

An analysis of data from throughout the world shows that urbanized areas are suburbanizing rapidly, not just in the United States (US). All of 29 non-US urbanized areas surveyed experienced declining population densities. Among US urbanized areas, population densities increased in eight and declined in 25. Measured in new population per new square mile, urbanized areas in the United States developed at greater densities than European areas.
  • The 10 sampled European urbanized areas averaged a minus 1,426 new residents per new square mile of development.

  • The 34 sampled United States urbanized areas added 2,191 new residents per each new square mile of development.

  • The 5 sampled Australian urbanized areas added 2,372 new residents per each new square mile of development.

  • The six sampled Canadian urbanized areas averaged 5,062 new residents per each new square mile of development.

  • The eight sampled Asian urbanized areas averaged 37,000 new residents per each new square mile of development.
A fundamental difference between suburbanization in the United States and Europe is that Europe has faced much slower overall population growth rates, or even population declines. Yet European urbanized areas have expanded their land areas significantly. For example, between 1960 and 1990:
  • Amsterdam expanded its developed area 61.4 percent, while its population declined 9.5 percent.

  • Brussels expanded its developed area 26.2 percent, while its population declined 5.7 percent.

  • Copenhagen expanded its developed area 24.6 percent, while its population declined 12.8 percent.

  • Frankfurt expanded its developed area 77.2 percent, while its population declined 5.8 percent.

  • Hamburg expanded its developed area 54.6 percent, while its population declined 9.8 percent.

  • Paris expanded its developed area 88.7 percent, while its population rose only 28.7 percent.

  • Vienna expanded its developed area 26.6 percent, while its population declined 5.4 percent.

  • Zurich expanded its developed area 43.9 percent, while its population declined 12.9 percent.
DATA TABLES

Description and Conclusions

International Urbanized Area Data: Population, Area & Density

International Urbanized Areas: Data by Geographical Area

International Urbanized Areas: Population and Land Area Increase

International Urbanized Areas: New Population per New Land Area 1960-1990

International Urbanized Areas Ranked: New Population per New Land Area 1960-1990

International Urbanized Areas: Ranked by 1990 Density

International Urbanized Areas: Change in Density Ranked

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