Between 1500 and 1800, London grew to be the largest city in Western Europe, with its population growing almost 22 times larger in this period. London would eventually overtake Constantinople as Europe's largest in the 1700s, before becoming the largest city in the world (ahead of Beijing) in the early-1800s.
The most populous cities in this period were the capitals of European empires, with Paris, Amsterdam, and Vienna growing to become the largest cities, alongside the likes of Lisbon and Madrid in Iberia, and Naples or Venice in Italy. Many of northwestern Europe's largest cities in 1500 would eventually be overtaken by others not shown here, such as the port cities of Hamburg, Marseilles or Rotterdam, or more industrial cities such as Berlin, Birmingham, and Munich.
Estimated population of the largest cities in England, France, the Low Countries, Germany and Austria at the beginning of each century from 1500 to 1800
(in thousands)
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OECD. (December 31, 2006). Estimated population of the largest cities in England, France, the Low Countries, Germany and Austria at the beginning of each century from 1500 to 1800 (in thousands) [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved November 16, 2024, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1281986/population-northwest-europe-largest-cities-historical/
OECD. "Estimated population of the largest cities in England, France, the Low Countries, Germany and Austria at the beginning of each century from 1500 to 1800 (in thousands)." Chart. December 31, 2006. Statista. Accessed November 16, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1281986/population-northwest-europe-largest-cities-historical/
OECD. (2006). Estimated population of the largest cities in England, France, the Low Countries, Germany and Austria at the beginning of each century from 1500 to 1800 (in thousands). Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: November 16, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1281986/population-northwest-europe-largest-cities-historical/
OECD. "Estimated Population of The Largest Cities in England, France, The Low Countries, Germany and Austria at The Beginning of Each Century from 1500 to 1800 (in Thousands)." Statista, Statista Inc., 31 Dec 2006, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1281986/population-northwest-europe-largest-cities-historical/
OECD, Estimated population of the largest cities in England, France, the Low Countries, Germany and Austria at the beginning of each century from 1500 to 1800 (in thousands) Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1281986/population-northwest-europe-largest-cities-historical/ (last visited November 16, 2024)
Estimated population of the largest cities in England, France, the Low Countries, Germany and Austria at the beginning of each century from 1500 to 1800 (in thousands) [Graph], OECD, December 31, 2006. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1281986/population-northwest-europe-largest-cities-historical/
