Estimates of Europe's urbanization rate 1300-1850
It is estimated that, between the 14th and 19th centuries, fewer than 10 percent of Europe's population lived in urban areas with a population of more than 10,000 people, and fewer than 13 percent lived in urban areas with more than 5,000 people. The two given sources use different methodologies* for their estimates, which gives varying but comparable estimates for urbanization rates across Europe. Perhaps surprisingly, Bairoch estimates that the urbanization rate increased during the 14th century, a period where Europe's population fell by 25-33 percent due to the Black Death. From the 19th century onwards, urbanization in Europe rose significantly due to the rise of industrialization and increased agricultural efficiency.
