|
In 2009, 10% of regions accounted for approximately 40% of the total population in OECD countries. The concentration of population was highest in Australia, Canada, Iceland and the United States, where differences in climatic and environmental conditions discourage human settlement in some areas (Figure 1.1).
During the past 14 years the population in OECD countries grew, on average, 0.8% per year, reaching 1.2 billion in 2009. Over the same time period population growth in emerging economies (Brazil, China, India, Russian Federation and South Africa) was at around 1.1% yearly. The largest TL2 region, the State of Uttar Pradesh in India, reached a population of over 190 million in 2009.
In OECD countries almost 65% of population growth is accounted for by just 10% of regions. The regional contribution to population growth is particularly concentrated in Canada, Korea and Australia (Figure 1.2).
Around 40% of OECD country populations live in the 90 large metropolitan regions (i.e. predominantly urban regions with a population of at least 1.5 million) and more than half of the national population in Korea and Japan (Figure 1.3).
In large metropolitan regions, population growth has been faster than the growth of the total OECD population (1.3 times higher), suggesting that migration, besides demographic dynamics, has increased the size of urban regions (see Chapters 20 and 21). Growth of population within countries, though, has varied. Compared to the national rate, the growth rate of population in large metropolitan regions has been particularly intense in Ireland, Turkey, New Zealand and Canada (Figure 1.4).
Definition
OECD has classified regions within each member country to facilitate comparability at the same territorial level. The classification is based on two territorial levels: the higher level (TL2) consists of 362 larger regions and the lower level (TL3) consists of 1 794 smaller regions. These two levels are officially established and are used as a framework for implementing regional policies in most countries.
In Brazil, China, India and the Russian Federation only TL2 large regions have been identified.
The metropolitan database identifies 90 large metropolitan regions (with a population of 1.5 million or more) in OECD countries on the basis of the TL3 territorial classification, with the exception of Canada, Mexico and the United States where national definitions are applied.
|
| |
Source
OECD Regional Database: http://dotstat/wbos/.
See Annex B for data, source and country-related metadata.
Reference years and territorial level
1995-2009; TL3.
TL2 regions in Brazil, China, India, the Russian Federation and South Africa.
Further information
OECD regional grids.
OECD metropolitan regions.
www.oecd.org/gov/regional/statisticsindicators
Figure notes
1.2: Estonia, Hungary, Poland and the Russian Federation are not included because of average decrease in population between 1995 and 2008. China is not included for lack of time series data.
1.3: The large metropolitan regions methodology has not been applied to Chile, Estonia, Israel and Slovenia. Luxembourg and Iceland don't have large metropolitan regions according to the OECD methodology.
1.4: Available years Belgium 2000-08; Denmark 2007-08; Germany 2005-08; Poland 2001-08.
|
|
| Indicator in PDF |
|
| 1.1 Percent of the national population that lives in 10% of TL3 regions with the largest population, 1995 and 2009 |
|
|
| 1.2 Percent of the national population growth contributed by the top 10% TL3 regions with the highest population growth, 1995-2009 |
|
|
| 1.3 Percent of the national population living in large metropolitan regions, 2008 |
|
|
| 1.4 Annual change in the total population: metropolitan regions and country average, 1997-2008 |
|
|
|
