GITNUXREPORT 2025

Municipality Statistics

Global urbanization and waste challenge municipal governments worldwide.

Jannik Linder

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: April 29, 2025

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Statistic 1

World Bank: Over 55% of the world’s population lived in urban areas in 2020

Statistic 2

United Nations: By 2050, nearly 68% of the world’s population is expected to live in urban areas

Statistic 3

UN-HABITAT: Globally, approximately 1.4 billion people lack access to adequate sanitation in municipalities

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EIA: The average municipal electricity consumption in U.S. households was about 877 kWh per month in 2020

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National Geographic: Urban areas contribute roughly 70% of the world’s carbon dioxide emissions

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City of New York: NYC’s municipal government spends over $10 billion annually

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OECD: Municipal governments account for around 60% of public sector employment in member countries

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US Census Bureau: Approximately 80% of Americans live in urban areas

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Statistics Canada: Over 80% of Canadians live in urban areas with populations over 10,000

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City of Tokyo: The Tokyo metropolitan area has a population of approximately 37 million

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Brazilian IBGE: In 2020, almost 85% of the urban population in Brazil had access to improved sanitation

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South Africa Statistics: About 66% of South Africans live in urban areas

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Statistics New Zealand: 86% of New Zealanders live in urban areas

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CBS Netherlands: Approximately 88% of Dutch residents live in urban municipalities

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India Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs: Over 377 million people in India live in urban areas

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China National Bureau of Statistics: Urbanization rate reached 64.72% in 2020

Statistic 17

Mexico INEGI: About 80% of the Mexican population resides in urban areas

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German Federal Statistical Office: Urban population in Germany reached about 77% in 2020

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French INSEE: Nearly 81% of France’s population lived in urban areas in 2020

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South Korea Statistics: 91.2% of South Koreans lived in urban areas in 2021

Statistic 21

Russian Federal State Statistics Service: Moscow has a municipal population of over 12 million

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South American urban growth: Latin America’s urban population grew by 70% in the last 30 years

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UK Office for National Statistics: Urban areas in the UK account for approximately 83% of the total population

Statistic 24

Indonesia BPS: Around 56% of Indonesians lived in urban areas in 2020

Statistic 25

Philippine Statistics Authority: About 47% of Filipinos lived in cities in 2020

Statistic 26

Saudi Arabia General Authority for Statistics: Over 84% of the population resides in urban areas

Statistic 27

Egypt Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics: Approximately 43% of Egyptians live in urban areas

Statistic 28

Kenya National Bureau of Statistics: About 28% of Kenyans live in urban areas

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Nigeria National Bureau of Statistics: Urbanization rate was about 50% in 2022

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Australia Department of Infrastructure: 66% of Australians lived in urban areas in 2021

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South Korea: Approximate 91% urbanization rate in 2021

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Singapore Urban Redevelopment Authority: Over 100% of the citizen population lives in housing estates managed by the HDB

Statistic 33

Czech Statistical Office: Around 73% of the Czech population lived in urban areas in 2020

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Hungarian Central Statistical Office: About 71% of Hungarians live in urban areas

Statistic 35

Polish Central Statistical Office: About 60% of Poles reside in urban areas

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Swedish Statistics: Nearly 87% of Swedes lived in urban areas in 2020

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Norwegian Statistics: 81% of Norwegians lived in urban areas in 2020

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Finnish Statistics: Over 86% of Finns resided in urban areas in 2020

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Danish Statistics: About 87% of Danes lived in urban areas in 2020

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Austrian Federal Statistical Office: 58% of Austria’s population lived in urban areas in 2020

Statistic 41

Swiss Federal Statistical Office: Approximately 72% of Swiss residents lived in urban areas in 2020

Statistic 42

Belgian Statbel: About 96% of Belgians lived in urban areas in 2020

Statistic 43

Spanish INE: In 2020, approximately 80% of Spaniards lived in urban areas

Statistic 44

Italian ISTAT: Around 69% of Italians resided in urban areas in 2020

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Portuguese Statistics: About 66% of Portuguese population lived in urban areas in 2020

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Greece Hellenic Statistical Authority: 77% of Greeks lived in urban areas in 2020

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Turkish Statistical Institute: 75% of Turkey’s population resided in urban areas in 2020

Statistic 48

Egypt Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics: ~43% urbanization in 2020

Statistic 49

South Africa Statistics: 66% urbanization rate in 2021

Statistic 50

Statistics Japan: Over 91% of Japanese lived in urban areas in 2020

Statistic 51

Korea Statistical: About 91.2% of South Koreans lived in urban areas in 2021

Statistic 52

Australian Bureau of Statistics: In 2021, 66% of Australia’s population lived in capital cities

Statistic 53

Iran Statistical Center: Over 75% of Iranians live in urban areas

Statistic 54

Statista: In 2021, the global municipal waste generated was approximately 2.01 billion tonnes

Statistic 55

Eurostat: In the EU, around 38% of municipal waste was recycled in 2020

Statistic 56

WHO: Approximately 80% of the waste generated in cities is dumped or burnt, causing health issues

Statistic 57

European Environment Agency: In 2019, European cities produced about 250 kg of municipal waste per person annually

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Key Highlights

Statista: In 2021, the global municipal waste generated was approximately 2.01 billion tonnes
World Bank: Over 55% of the world’s population lived in urban areas in 2020
United Nations: By 2050, nearly 68% of the world’s population is expected to live in urban areas
OECD: Municipal governments account for around 60% of public sector employment in member countries
EIA: The average municipal electricity consumption in U.S. households was about 877 kWh per month in 2020
Eurostat: In the EU, around 38% of municipal waste was recycled in 2020
UN-HABITAT: Globally, approximately 1.4 billion people lack access to adequate sanitation in municipalities
US Census Bureau: Approximately 80% of Americans live in urban areas
National Geographic: Urban areas contribute roughly 70% of the world’s carbon dioxide emissions
WHO: Approximately 80% of the waste generated in cities is dumped or burnt, causing health issues
City of New York: NYC’s municipal government spends over $10 billion annually
Australian Bureau of Statistics: In 2021, 66% of Australia’s population lived in capital cities
Statistics Canada: Over 80% of Canadians live in urban areas with populations over 10,000

As cities around the world swell with over 55% of the global population now residing in urban areas—generating billions of tonnes of waste, consuming vast amounts of electricity, and accounting for most of the world’s carbon emissions—understanding the challenges and opportunities faced by municipalities has never been more critical.

Global Urbanization Trends and Projections

World Bank: Over 55% of the world’s population lived in urban areas in 2020
United Nations: By 2050, nearly 68% of the world’s population is expected to live in urban areas
UN-HABITAT: Globally, approximately 1.4 billion people lack access to adequate sanitation in municipalities

Global Urbanization Trends and Projections Interpretation

As cities swell and urbanization accelerates toward two-thirds of humanity by 2050, the stark reality remains that over a billion people still face sanitation crises amid the rush to urbanize.

Municipal Energy Consumption and Infrastructure

EIA: The average municipal electricity consumption in U.S. households was about 877 kWh per month in 2020
National Geographic: Urban areas contribute roughly 70% of the world’s carbon dioxide emissions
City of New York: NYC’s municipal government spends over $10 billion annually

Municipal Energy Consumption and Infrastructure Interpretation

With urban centers devouring approximately 70% of global CO₂ emissions, and American households gobbling up 877 kWh each month while NYC's government doles out over $10 billion annually, it's clear that our cities are not only the heartbeats of progress but also the engines of our environmental challenge—and it's time they get their green energy act together.

Regional and National Urbanization Statistics

OECD: Municipal governments account for around 60% of public sector employment in member countries
US Census Bureau: Approximately 80% of Americans live in urban areas
Statistics Canada: Over 80% of Canadians live in urban areas with populations over 10,000
City of Tokyo: The Tokyo metropolitan area has a population of approximately 37 million
Brazilian IBGE: In 2020, almost 85% of the urban population in Brazil had access to improved sanitation
South Africa Statistics: About 66% of South Africans live in urban areas
Statistics New Zealand: 86% of New Zealanders live in urban areas
CBS Netherlands: Approximately 88% of Dutch residents live in urban municipalities
India Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs: Over 377 million people in India live in urban areas
China National Bureau of Statistics: Urbanization rate reached 64.72% in 2020
Mexico INEGI: About 80% of the Mexican population resides in urban areas
German Federal Statistical Office: Urban population in Germany reached about 77% in 2020
French INSEE: Nearly 81% of France’s population lived in urban areas in 2020
South Korea Statistics: 91.2% of South Koreans lived in urban areas in 2021
Russian Federal State Statistics Service: Moscow has a municipal population of over 12 million
South American urban growth: Latin America’s urban population grew by 70% in the last 30 years
UK Office for National Statistics: Urban areas in the UK account for approximately 83% of the total population
Indonesia BPS: Around 56% of Indonesians lived in urban areas in 2020
Philippine Statistics Authority: About 47% of Filipinos lived in cities in 2020
Saudi Arabia General Authority for Statistics: Over 84% of the population resides in urban areas
Egypt Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics: Approximately 43% of Egyptians live in urban areas
Kenya National Bureau of Statistics: About 28% of Kenyans live in urban areas
Nigeria National Bureau of Statistics: Urbanization rate was about 50% in 2022
Australia Department of Infrastructure: 66% of Australians lived in urban areas in 2021
South Korea: Approximate 91% urbanization rate in 2021
Singapore Urban Redevelopment Authority: Over 100% of the citizen population lives in housing estates managed by the HDB
Czech Statistical Office: Around 73% of the Czech population lived in urban areas in 2020
Hungarian Central Statistical Office: About 71% of Hungarians live in urban areas
Polish Central Statistical Office: About 60% of Poles reside in urban areas
Swedish Statistics: Nearly 87% of Swedes lived in urban areas in 2020
Norwegian Statistics: 81% of Norwegians lived in urban areas in 2020
Finnish Statistics: Over 86% of Finns resided in urban areas in 2020
Danish Statistics: About 87% of Danes lived in urban areas in 2020
Austrian Federal Statistical Office: 58% of Austria’s population lived in urban areas in 2020
Swiss Federal Statistical Office: Approximately 72% of Swiss residents lived in urban areas in 2020
Belgian Statbel: About 96% of Belgians lived in urban areas in 2020
Spanish INE: In 2020, approximately 80% of Spaniards lived in urban areas
Italian ISTAT: Around 69% of Italians resided in urban areas in 2020
Portuguese Statistics: About 66% of Portuguese population lived in urban areas in 2020
Greece Hellenic Statistical Authority: 77% of Greeks lived in urban areas in 2020
Turkish Statistical Institute: 75% of Turkey’s population resided in urban areas in 2020
Egypt Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics: ~43% urbanization in 2020
South Africa Statistics: 66% urbanization rate in 2021
Statistics Japan: Over 91% of Japanese lived in urban areas in 2020
Korea Statistical: About 91.2% of South Koreans lived in urban areas in 2021

Regional and National Urbanization Statistics Interpretation

With over 60% of public sector jobs in municipalities worldwide and approximately 85% of the global urban population residing in cities—many with access to essential amenities—the planet's urban centers have become not just the heartbeat of modern life but also the focal point of sustainable development challenges that humanity dare not ignore.

Urban Population Growth and Distribution

Australian Bureau of Statistics: In 2021, 66% of Australia’s population lived in capital cities
Iran Statistical Center: Over 75% of Iranians live in urban areas

Urban Population Growth and Distribution Interpretation

While 66% of Australians call capital cities home, over 75% of Iranians reside in urban centers, highlighting a global trend where city life increasingly draws the world's populations into concrete jungles rather than rural escapes.

Waste Management and Recycling

Statista: In 2021, the global municipal waste generated was approximately 2.01 billion tonnes
Eurostat: In the EU, around 38% of municipal waste was recycled in 2020
WHO: Approximately 80% of the waste generated in cities is dumped or burnt, causing health issues
European Environment Agency: In 2019, European cities produced about 250 kg of municipal waste per person annually

Waste Management and Recycling Interpretation

With cities producing an average of 250 kg per person annually and a meager 38% recycling rate in the EU, it's clear that our overflowing landfills and smoky burn piles are a toxic recipe for both environmental health and global waste statistics exceeding 2 billion tonnes in 2021.