List of urban areas in the European Union

Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates This is a list of urban areas in the European Union with over 500,000 inhabitants as of 2022. The data comes from Demographia and the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs.<ref name=Demographia>Template:Citation</ref><ref name=UN>UN's report on The World’s Cities in 2018</ref> Demographia provides figures for urban areas (including conurbations),<ref name=Demographia/> while the UN DESA figures are a mix agglomerations, cities proper and metropolitan areas.<ref name=UN/> For comparison, Function Urban Area (FUA) population figures by Eurostat are also provided,<ref name="Eurostat">Population on 1 January by age groups and sex - functional urban areas. Retrieved 13 April 2024.</ref> however, these measure the wider metropolitan areas.

Important notes

• This is a list of urban areas, not a list of metropolitan areas. Urban areas are contiguous built-up areas where houses are typically not more than Template:Convert apart, not including rivers, parks, roads, industrial fields, etc. A metropolitan area is an urban area plus any satellite cities around it and any agricultural land in between. For instance Paris is sometimes listed with 12 million inhabitants, Stuttgart is frequently listed with 2.2 million inhabitants, Munich with 2 million or more, etc., indicating the wider metropolitan area of those places. Metropolitan areas, which imply much more complicated definitions (such as the proportion of people in satellite cities working in the core of the metropolitan area), can be accurately computed only by statistical offices, after they have chosen a definition for metropolitan areas, whereas urban areas can be computed by any institution or person with the study of maps, satellite imagery and other geographical data in order to determine the outer limits of a continuous built-up area with one or more neighbouring cities. Furthermore, the list does not make a difference between cities that have multiple satellites and cities that do not. Therefore, two cities with the same demographics for their urban area will have an equal ranking on this list, even if one of the two cities may be much larger as it is the core of a number of satellites.
• This is a list of urban areas, not a list of administrative cities. For example, the list of conurbations contains the urban area of Lille-Kortrijk. Lille and Kortrijk remain two very distinct cities, each belonging to a different country, culture and language area. For a list of the largest cities of the European Union by population, see List of cities in the European Union by population within city limits.

Urban areas over 500,000 inhabitants (2015–2022)

Rank	Urban area	Image	State	Population (2023) (urban areas; Demographia)<ref name="Demographia" />	ESPON Population (Functional Urban Area)<ref name=":0">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	Population (UN)<ref name="UN" />	FUA population (metropolitan areas; Eurostat)<ref name="Eurostat" />	Template:Nowrap Demographia)<ref name="Demographia" />	Template:Nowrap
1	Paris	File:Paris - Eiffelturm und Marsfeld2.jpg	Template:FRA	11,108,000	12,998,583	10,901,000 Template:Small	13,125,142 Template:Small	3,893	1.83
2	Madrid	File:Madrid-Azca-Castellana-170913.jpg	Template:ESP	6,798,000	5,263,000	6,497,000 Template:Small	6,982,656 Template:Small	4,980
3	Ruhr	File:Rathaus Galerie Essen 2011.jpg	Template:GER	6,769,000	5,376,000	N/A	N/A	2,523
4	Milan	File:Full Milan skyline from Duomo roof.jpg	Template:ITA	5,471,000	7,636,000	3,132,000 Template:Small	4,934,205 Template:Small	2,459
5	Barcelona	File:Barcelona desde el mar - panoramio (1a).jpg	Template:ESP	5,317,000	4,082,000	5,494,000 Template:Small	5,093,585 Template:Small	4,959
6	Berlin	File:Cityscape Berlin.jpg	Template:GER	4,286,000	4,016,000	3,552,000 Template:Small	4,979,867 Template:Small	3,134
7	Naples	File:Naples from the Castello Sant Elmo with Abbazia San Martino the port and the Vesuv.jpg	Template:ITA	3,653,000	3,714,000	2,198,000 Template:Small	3,303,711 Template:Small	3,544
8	Athens	File:Attica 06-13 Athens 36 View from Lycabettus.jpg	Template:GRE	3,309,000	3,761,000	3,156,000 Template:Small	3,828,434 Template:Small	5,678
9	Rome	File:Rome Skyline (8012016319).jpg	Template:ITA	3,239,000	5,190,000	4,210,956 Template:Small	4,291,581 Template:Small	2,829
10	Rotterdam–The Hague	File:RotterdamMaasNederland.jpg File:Cityscape of The Hague, viewed from Het Plein (The Square).jpg	Template:NED	3,027,000	1,904,000	N/A	3,035,679 Template:Small	2,981
11	Lisbon	File:Aerial view of Augusta Street, Lisbon (50644280948).jpg	Template:POR	2,832,000	2,591,000	2,927,000 Template:Small	3,049,222 Template:Small	2,979
12	Budapest	File:Parlement van Boedapest gelegen aan de Donau.jpg	Template:HUN	2,407,000	2,523,000	1,759,00 Template:Small	3,001,643 Template:Small	2,414
13	Brussels	File:Brussels skyline gp.jpg	Template:BEL	2,238,000	2,639,000	2,050,000 Template:Small	3,350,969 Template:Small	2,572	0.02<ref name="unup" />
14	Cologne–Bonn	File:Cologne (231726439).jpeg File:Bonn mit Stadthaus Ansicht von Beuel.jpg	Template:GER	2,218,000	3,070,000	N/A	3,005,728 Template:Small	2,845
15	Stockholm	File:Gamla Stan swe.jpg	Template:SWE	2,200,000	2,171,000	1,583,000 Template:Small	2,308,143 Template:Small	2,598	0.58<ref name="unup" />
16	Hamburg	File:Hamburg, Speicherstadt, Wasserschloss -- 2016 -- 3230-6.jpg	Template:GER	2,189,000	2,983,000	1,793,000 Template:Small	3,421,692 Template:Small	2,753
17	Munich	File:Frauenkirche and Neues Rathaus Munich March 2013.JPG	Template:GER	2,112,000	2,665,000	1,504,000 Template:Small	3,016,834 Template:Small	4,384	0.72<ref name="unup" />
18	Bucharest	File:Palatul Parlamentului 1.jpg	Template:ROM	2,097,000	2,064,000	1,821,000 Template:Small	2,412,530 Template:Small	5,092	0.10<ref name="unup">United Nations: World Urbanization Prospects Template:Webarchive</ref>
19	Frankfurt	File:Skyline Frankfurt am Main.jpg	Template:GER	2,055,000	2,764,000	n/a	2,678,557 Template:Small	3,112
20	Vienna	File:Blick aufs Rathaus und die Votivkirche, Wien - panoramio.jpg	Template:AUT	2,030,000	2,584,000	1,901,000 Template:Small	n/a	6,029	1.04<ref name="unup" />
21	Warsaw	File:Panorama siekierkowski.jpg	Template:POL	2,028,000	2,785,000	1,768,000 Template:Small	3,374,742 Template:Small	3,711
22	Katowice	File:Katowice Rynek.jpg	Template:POL	1,903,000	3,029,000	N/A	2,417,386 Template:Small	2,615
23	Amsterdam	File:ZuidasAmsterdamtheNetherlands.jpg	Template:NED	1,736,000	2,497,000	1,132,000 Template:Small	2,915,114 Template:Small	3,565
24	Copenhagen	File:Nyhavn MichaD.jpg	Template:DEN	1,650,000	2,350,000	1,321,000 Template:Small	n/a	2,922
25	Valencia	File:Valencia west night.jpg	Template:ESP	1,547,000	1,398,000	N/A	1,775,845 Template:Small	3,930	0.29<ref name="unup" />
26	Turin	File:Turin monte cappuccini.jpg	Template:ITA	1,492,000	1,601,000	1,786,000 Template:Small	1,712,372 Template:Small	3,919	−0.16<ref name="unup" />
27	Lyon	File:Lyon-part-dieu-2023.jpg	Template:FRA	1,424,000	1,669,000	1,690,000 Template:Small	2,280,845 Template:Small	3,089	0.50<ref name="unup" />
28	Marseille	File:Coucher de soleil sur Notre-Dame de la Garde.JPG	Template:FRA	1,406,000	1,530,000	1,599,000 Template:Small	1,879,601 Template:Small	2,041	0.46<ref name="unup" />
29	Stuttgart	File:Stuttgart AltesSchloss03.JPG	Template:GER	1,397,000	2,289,000	N/A	2,531,040 Template:Small	2,931
30	Dublin	File:View of Dublin, looking east from Sean O’Casey Bridge 20150807 1.jpg	Template:IRE	1,386,000	1,477,000	1,201,000 Template:Small	1,793,902 Template:Small	3,006	1.14<ref name="unup" />
31	Porto	File:Cais da Ribeira, Oporto, Portugal, 2012-05-09, DD 17.JPG	Template:POR	1,364,000	1,245,000	1,307,000 Template:Small	1,316,989 Template:Small	1,715
32	Lille	File:Lille vue gd place.JPG	Template:FRA, Template:BEL	1,315,000	1,379,000	1,054,000 Template:Small	1,515,061 Template:Small	2,489	0.50<ref name="unup" />
33	Prague	File:Prague-IMG 1307-Pano-web-X3.jpg	Template:CZE	1,240,000	1,669,000	1,292,000 Template:Small	2,216,746 Template:Small	4,023	−0.07<ref name="unup" />
34	Helsinki	File:Helsinki July 2013-27a.jpg	Template:FIN	1,146,000	1,285,000	1,279,000 Template:Small	1,551,959 Template:Small	2,223	0.81<ref name="unup" />
35	Seville	File:19060879124 a5eac59dea o feria abril sevilla 2013.jpg	Template:ESP	1,138,000	1,180,000	N/A	1,556,975 Template:Small	4,185
36	Sofia	File:AlexanderNevskyCathedral-Sofia-6.jpg	Template:BUL	1,087,000	1,174,000	1,272,000 Template:Small	1,531,867 Template:Small	5,246	0.78<ref name="unup" />
37	Antwerp	File:MAS Antwerpen 2016-05 --1.jpg	Template:BEL	1,070,000	1,406,000	1,032,000 Template:Small	1,157,068 Template:Small	1,608	0.05<ref name="unup" />
38	Toulouse	File:Toulouse by night with Basilique Saint-Sernin.jpg	Template:FRA	946,000	832,000	N/A	1,470,899 Template:Small	1,864	0.72<ref name="unup" />
39	Utrecht	File:Stadhuis Utrecht.JPG	Template:NED	907,000	692,000	N/A	895,000 Template:Small	2,894
40	Gdańsk	File:Calle Dlugie Pobrzeze, Gdansk, Polonia, 2013-05-20, DD 06.jpg	Template:POL	874,000	993,000	N/A	1,223,884 Template:Small	2,909
41	Nice	File:Nice Port 1.jpg	Template:FRA	871,000	1,082,000	N/A	618,489 Template:Small	1,868	0.52<ref name="unup" />
42	Thessaloniki	File:Salonica-view-aerial2.jpg	Template:GRE	844,000	1,052,000	N/A	973,997 Template:Small	3,910	0.39<ref name="unup" />
43	Bordeaux	File:Bordeaux place de la bourse with tram.JPG	Template:FRA	827,000	918,000	N/A	1,376,375 Template:Small	1,104	0.60<ref name="unup" />
44	Łódź	File:Lodz Manufaktura dron (2).jpg	Template:POL	798,000	1,165,000	N/A	893,083 Template:Small	2,751
45	Bilbao	File:Ayuntamiento-bilbao1.jpg	Template:ESP	782,000	947,000	N/A	1,041,059 Template:Small	5,297
46	Florence	File:Florence Cathedral.jpg	Template:ITA	764,000	645,000	N/A	784,279 Template:Small	3,352
47	Palermo	File:Palermo panorama.JPG	Template:ITA	747,000	861,000	N/A	986,721 Template:Small	4,241	0.12<ref name="unup" />
48	Kraków	File:Rynek Glowny w Krakowie.jpg	Template:POL	744,000	1,236,000	N/A	1,489,912 Template:Small	3,503
49	Hanover	File:Hannover Altstadt 128-h.jpg	Template:GER	742,000	997,000	N/A	1,289,320 Template:Small	2,558
50	Nuremberg	File:Nuremberg panorama morning 3.jpg	Template:GER	720,000	1,443,000	N/A	1,181,541 Template:Small	3,055
51	Zaragoza	File:0849 pilar ebro 2004.png	Template:ESP	707,000	639,000	N/A	770,370 Template:Small	4,789
52	Dresden	File:Dresden Überblick 12.jpg	Template:GER	698,000	882,000	N/A	965,353 Template:Small	2,567
53	Málaga	File:Palacio de Ferias y Congresos de Málaga.jpg	Template:ESP	692,000	944,000	N/A	887,146 Template:Small	5,138
54	Zagreb	File:Zageb Croatian National Theater.jpg	Template:HRV	691,000	1,153,255	N/A	1,161,259 Template:Small	3,706
55	Catania	File:Catania anfiteatro romano2423.jpg	Template:ITA	687,000	707,000	N/A	643,274 Template:Small	2,550
56	Gothenburg	File:Älvsborgsbron.jpg	Template:SWE	629,000	759,000	N/A	1,021,831 Template:Small	2,198
57	Poznań	File:6 Poznan 015.jpg	Template:POL	680,000	919,000	N/A	1,051,414 Template:Small	2,004
58	Bergamo	File:Italia Bergamo 03.JPG	Template:ITA	660,000	662,000	N/A	310,020 Template:Small	2,022
59	Mannheim	File:Mannheim Friedrichsplatz 2005 Richtung Augustaanlage.jpg	Template:GER	658,000	683,000	N/A	n/a	2,920
60	Leipzig	File:Leipzig Burgplatz Panorama.jpg	Template:GER	636,000	842,000	N/A	956,290 Template:Small	2,506
61	Wrocław	File:Wroclaw 1.jpg	Template:POL	635,000	861,000	N/A	963,311 Template:Small	2,636
62	Las Palmas	File:Las Palmas panorama.jpg	Template:ESP	619,000	640,000	N/A	630,900 Template:Small	2,879
63	Riga	File:Riga - House of Blackheads.jpg	Template:LVA	603,000	1,195,000	N/A	917,351 Template:Small	2,217
64	Bremen	File:Bremen Altstadt (5438245111).jpg	Template:GER	599,000	1,077,000	N/A	1,046,897 Template:Small	2,161
65	Nantes	File:Quai de la Fosse (de la butte Saint-Anne)- Nantes.jpg	Template:FRA	578,000	708,000	N/A	1,022,775 Template:Small	2,277
66	Aachen	File:Aachen Rathaus pano.jpg	Template:GER	571,000	672,000	N/A	594,324 Template:Small	2,080
67	Vilnius	File:Vilnius view.jpg	Template:LTU	550,000	680,000	N/A	716,856 Template:Small	1,966
68	Genoa	File:Genova-Panorama dalla collina di Camandoli.jpg	Template:ITA	546,000	694,000	N/A	681,459 Template:Small	7,027
69	Palma	File:Mallorca Palma from Bellver Castle viewpoint asv2023-04 img2.jpg	Template:ESP	522,000	433,000	N/A	709,091 Template:Small	3,359
70	Santa Cruz	File:Panorama Santa Cruz.jpg	Template:ESP	510,000		N/A	520,728 Template:Small	4,688

By country

Number of cities by country with urban areas over 500,000 inhabitants represented in the table

Country	No. of cities
Template:GER	19
Template:FRA	17
Template:ESP	15
Template:ITA	14
Template:POL	7
Template:NED	5
Template:BEL	5
Template:CZE	3
Template:GRE	2
Template:PRT	2
Template:SWE	2

See also

• List of cities in the European Union by population within city limits
• List of European cities by population within city limits
• List of urban areas in Europe
• List of metropolitan areas in Europe
• List of larger urban zones (metropolitan area)
• List of urban areas by population
• Blue Banana
• Golden Banana

References

<references /> http://www.demographia.com/db-worldua.pdf

External links

• United Nations list of urban agglomerations in the European Union (as tabulated by INSEE).
• Population of urban areas provided by UK National Statistics for UK urban areas
• e-Geopolis: research group, university of Paris-Diderot, France - About world urbanization