Statistical presentation

Data description

An urban area is defined as a built-up area with at least 200 inhabitants. In a built-up area the distance between the buildings is not more than 200 meters, unless the interruption is due to public facilities, parks, cemeteries, etc.(UN definition of urban areas).

The only exception is Hovedstadsområdet (the Metropolitan area). This area was until 1999 defined by using borders of municipalities. From 1999 urban areas within those municipalities are defined as all other urban areas. In this way the area covering Hovedstadsområdet has declined.

Classification system

Classification of the size of cities/towns:

• Region of the Capital
• Cities 100000 - 999999 inhabitants
• Cities 50000 - 99999 inhabitants
• Cities 20000 - 49999 inhabitants
• Cities 10000 - 19999 inhabitants
• Towns 5000 - 9999 inhabitants
• Towns 2000 - 4999 inhabitants
• Towns 1000 - 1999 inhabitants
• Towns 500 - 999 inhabitants
• Towns 250 - 499 inhabitants
• Towns 200 - 249 inhabitants
• Rural areas

Sector coverage

Not relevant for these statistics.

Statistical concepts and definitions

Town: An urban area is defined as a built-up area with at least 200 inhabitants. In a built-up area the distance between the buildings is not more than 200 metres, unless the interruption is due to public facilities, parks, cemeteries, etc.(UN definition of urban areas).

The definitionen is based upon FN's guidelines for deliminating urban areas.

The only exeption is Hovedstadsområdet (the Metropolitan area). This area was until 1999 defined by using borders of municipalities. From 1999 urban areas within those municipalities are defined as all other urban areas. In this way the area covering Hovedstadsområdet has declinad.

An urban built-up area.: An urban area is defined as a built-up area where the distance between the buildings is not more than 200 metres, unless the interruption is due to public facilities, parks, cemeteries, etc.(UN definition of urban areas).

The definitionen is based upon FN's guidelines for deliminating urban areas.

The only exeption is Hovedstadsområdet (the Metropolitan area). This area was until 1999 defined by using borders of municipalities. From 1999 urban areas within those municipalities are defined as all other urban areas. In this way the area covering Hovedstadsområdet has declinad.

Statistical unit

• Number of Persons
• Number of cities/towns

Statistical population

Population in urban and rural areas.

Reference area

Denmark.

Time coverage

Statistics on urban areas can be found every 5th or 10th year in the old census publications. From 1976 to 1996, information on urban areas was compiled every other year, since 1996 annually. It is possible to give information about the size of the towns back to 1920 (archived in a excel shed).

Base period

Not relevant for these statistics.

Unit of measure

• Number of Persons in cities/towns
• Number of cities/towns

Reference period

1. January 01-01-2021

Frequency of dissemination

Annually.

Legal acts and other agreements

Act on Statistics Denmark (Lov om Danmarks Statistik), Section 6.

Cost and burden

These statistics are based on administrative data. There is thus no direct re-sponse burden, in relation to the compilation of these statistics.

Comment

Further information contact Statistics Denmark +45 3917 3300.