Urban area over the long-term in Svalbard and Jan Mayen
Svalbard and Jan Mayen: Urban area over the long-term was 8.7 km² per grid cell in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
8.7 km² per grid cell
Change on year
up 0.5%
World rank
190th
of 202 countries
All-time high
8.7 km² per grid cell
in 2025
All-time low
0 km² per grid cell
in 1000
Years of data
108
1000–2025
Urban area over the long-term in Svalbard and Jan Mayen, 1000–2025
Source: HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in km² per grid cell.
Analysis
Svalbard and Jan Mayen recorded 8.7 km² per grid cell for urban area over the long-term in 2025. That is the highest value across all 108 years on record.
That represents a change of up 0.5% on the previous year and up 4.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban area over the long-term in Svalbard and Jan Mayen peaked at 8.7 km² per grid cell in 2025 and was at its lowest, 0 km² per grid cell, in 1000.
Svalbard and Jan Mayen ranks 190th of 202 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Urban area over the long-term in Svalbard and Jan Mayen, year by year
| Year | km² per grid cell | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1000 | 0 km² per grid cell | — |
| 1100 | 0 km² per grid cell | — |
| 1200 | 0 km² per grid cell | — |
| 1300 | 0 km² per grid cell | +275.0% |
| 1400 | 0 km² per grid cell | +275.0% |
| 1500 | 0 km² per grid cell | +275.0% |
| 1600 | 0 km² per grid cell | +275.0% |
| 1700 | 0.0001 km² per grid cell | +275.0% |
| 1710 | 0.0001 km² per grid cell | +32.1% |
| 1720 | 0.0002 km² per grid cell | +32.1% |
| 1730 | 0.0002 km² per grid cell | +32.1% |
| 1740 | 0.0003 km² per grid cell | +32.1% |
| 1750 | 0.0004 km² per grid cell | +32.1% |
| 1760 | 0.0005 km² per grid cell | +32.1% |
| 1770 | 0.0006 km² per grid cell | +32.1% |
| 1780 | 0.0009 km² per grid cell | +32.1% |
| 1790 | 0.0011 km² per grid cell | +32.1% |
| 1800 | 0.0015 km² per grid cell | +32.1% |
| 1810 | 0.002 km² per grid cell | +32.1% |
| 1820 | 0.0027 km² per grid cell | +39.4% |
| 1830 | 0.0038 km² per grid cell | +39.4% |
| 1840 | 0.0053 km² per grid cell | +39.4% |
| 1850 | 0.0074 km² per grid cell | +39.4% |
| 1860 | 0.0104 km² per grid cell | +39.4% |
| 1870 | 0.0131 km² per grid cell | +26.3% |
| 1880 | 0.0165 km² per grid cell | +26.3% |
| 1890 | 0.0209 km² per grid cell | +26.3% |
| 1900 | 0.0263 km² per grid cell | +26.3% |
| 1910 | 0.0332 km² per grid cell | +26.3% |
| 1920 | 0.0462 km² per grid cell | +38.9% |
| 1930 | 0.0641 km² per grid cell | +38.9% |
| 1940 | 0.0891 km² per grid cell | +38.9% |
| 1950 | 0.1237 km² per grid cell | +38.9% |
| 1951 | 0.1374 km² per grid cell | +11.1% |
| 1952 | 0.1527 km² per grid cell | +11.1% |
| 1953 | 0.1697 km² per grid cell | +11.1% |
| 1954 | 0.1885 km² per grid cell | +11.1% |
| 1955 | 0.2095 km² per grid cell | +11.1% |
| 1956 | 0.2308 km² per grid cell | +10.2% |
| 1957 | 0.2525 km² per grid cell | +9.4% |
| 1958 | 0.276 km² per grid cell | +9.3% |
| 1959 | 0.3013 km² per grid cell | +9.2% |
| 1960 | 0.3286 km² per grid cell | +9.0% |
| 1961 | 0.3578 km² per grid cell | +8.9% |
| 1962 | 0.3893 km² per grid cell | +8.8% |
| 1963 | 0.423 km² per grid cell | +8.7% |
| 1964 | 0.4592 km² per grid cell | +8.5% |
| 1965 | 0.4979 km² per grid cell | +8.4% |
| 1966 | 0.5393 km² per grid cell | +8.3% |
| 1967 | 0.5835 km² per grid cell | +8.2% |
| 1968 | 0.6309 km² per grid cell | +8.1% |
| 1969 | 0.6816 km² per grid cell | +8.0% |
| 1970 | 0.7357 km² per grid cell | +7.9% |
| 1971 | 0.7937 km² per grid cell | +7.9% |
| 1972 | 0.8558 km² per grid cell | +7.8% |
| 1973 | 0.9224 km² per grid cell | +7.8% |
| 1974 | 0.9938 km² per grid cell | +7.7% |
| 1975 | 1.07 km² per grid cell | +7.7% |
| 1976 | 1.15 km² per grid cell | +7.7% |
| 1977 | 1.24 km² per grid cell | +7.7% |
| 1978 | 1.34 km² per grid cell | +7.7% |
| 1979 | 1.44 km² per grid cell | +7.7% |
| 1980 | 1.55 km² per grid cell | +7.8% |
| 1981 | 1.67 km² per grid cell | +7.8% |
| 1982 | 1.81 km² per grid cell | +7.9% |
| 1983 | 1.95 km² per grid cell | +7.9% |
| 1984 | 2.11 km² per grid cell | +8.0% |
| 1985 | 2.28 km² per grid cell | +8.1% |
| 1986 | 2.46 km² per grid cell | +8.2% |
| 1987 | 2.67 km² per grid cell | +8.3% |
| 1988 | 2.89 km² per grid cell | +8.4% |
| 1989 | 3.14 km² per grid cell | +8.5% |
| 1990 | 3.41 km² per grid cell | +8.6% |
| 1991 | 3.7 km² per grid cell | +8.8% |
| 1992 | 4.03 km² per grid cell | +8.9% |
| 1993 | 4.4 km² per grid cell | +9.0% |
| 1994 | 4.8 km² per grid cell | +9.2% |
| 1995 | 5.25 km² per grid cell | +9.3% |
| 1996 | 5.75 km² per grid cell | +9.5% |
| 1997 | 6.31 km² per grid cell | +9.7% |
| 1998 | 6.93 km² per grid cell | +9.8% |
| 1999 | 7.62 km² per grid cell | +10.0% |
| 2000 | 8.39 km² per grid cell | +10.2% |
| 2001 | 8.33 km² per grid cell | -0.7% |
| 2002 | 8.29 km² per grid cell | -0.6% |
| 2003 | 8.25 km² per grid cell | -0.4% |
| 2004 | 8.23 km² per grid cell | -0.2% |
| 2005 | 8.23 km² per grid cell | -0.1% |
| 2006 | 8.23 km² per grid cell | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 8.23 km² per grid cell | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 8.24 km² per grid cell | +0.1% |
| 2009 | 8.25 km² per grid cell | +0.1% |
| 2010 | 8.26 km² per grid cell | +0.1% |
| 2011 | 8.27 km² per grid cell | +0.2% |
| 2012 | 8.29 km² per grid cell | +0.2% |
| 2013 | 8.31 km² per grid cell | +0.2% |
| 2014 | 8.33 km² per grid cell | +0.3% |
| 2015 | 8.35 km² per grid cell | +0.3% |
| 2016 | 8.38 km² per grid cell | +0.3% |
| 2017 | 8.4 km² per grid cell | +0.3% |
| 2018 | 8.43 km² per grid cell | +0.4% |
| 2019 | 8.47 km² per grid cell | +0.4% |
| 2020 | 8.5 km² per grid cell | +0.4% |
| 2021 | 8.54 km² per grid cell | +0.4% |
| 2022 | 8.58 km² per grid cell | +0.5% |
| 2023 | 8.62 km² per grid cell | +0.5% |
| 2024 | 8.66 km² per grid cell | +0.5% |
| 2025 | 8.7 km² per grid cell | +0.5% |
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Urban area over the long-term in Svalbard and Jan Mayen changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1300 | +275.0% | 0 km² per grid cell | 0 km² per grid cell |
| 1400 | +275.0% | 0 km² per grid cell | 0 km² per grid cell |
| 1500 | +275.0% | 0 km² per grid cell | 0 km² per grid cell |
| 1600 | +275.0% | 0 km² per grid cell | 0 km² per grid cell |
| 1700 | +275.0% | 0 km² per grid cell | 0.0001 km² per grid cell |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 0 km² per grid cell | 0 km² per grid cell | 0 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1100s | 0 km² per grid cell | 0 km² per grid cell | 0 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1200s | 0 km² per grid cell | 0 km² per grid cell | 0 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1300s | 0 km² per grid cell | 0 km² per grid cell | 0 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1400s | 0 km² per grid cell | 0 km² per grid cell | 0 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1500s | 0 km² per grid cell | 0 km² per grid cell | 0 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1600s | 0 km² per grid cell | 0 km² per grid cell | 0 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1700s | 0.0001 km² per grid cell | 0.0001 km² per grid cell | 0.0001 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1710s | 0.0001 km² per grid cell | 0.0001 km² per grid cell | 0.0001 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1720s | 0.0002 km² per grid cell | 0.0002 km² per grid cell | 0.0002 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1730s | 0.0002 km² per grid cell | 0.0002 km² per grid cell | 0.0002 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1740s | 0.0003 km² per grid cell | 0.0003 km² per grid cell | 0.0003 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1750s | 0.0004 km² per grid cell | 0.0004 km² per grid cell | 0.0004 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1760s | 0.0005 km² per grid cell | 0.0005 km² per grid cell | 0.0005 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1770s | 0.0006 km² per grid cell | 0.0006 km² per grid cell | 0.0006 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1780s | 0.0009 km² per grid cell | 0.0009 km² per grid cell | 0.0009 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1790s | 0.0011 km² per grid cell | 0.0011 km² per grid cell | 0.0011 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1800s | 0.0015 km² per grid cell | 0.0015 km² per grid cell | 0.0015 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1810s | 0.002 km² per grid cell | 0.002 km² per grid cell | 0.002 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1820s | 0.0027 km² per grid cell | 0.0027 km² per grid cell | 0.0027 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1830s | 0.0038 km² per grid cell | 0.0038 km² per grid cell | 0.0038 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1840s | 0.0053 km² per grid cell | 0.0053 km² per grid cell | 0.0053 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1850s | 0.0074 km² per grid cell | 0.0074 km² per grid cell | 0.0074 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1860s | 0.0104 km² per grid cell | 0.0104 km² per grid cell | 0.0104 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1870s | 0.0131 km² per grid cell | 0.0131 km² per grid cell | 0.0131 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1880s | 0.0165 km² per grid cell | 0.0165 km² per grid cell | 0.0165 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1890s | 0.0209 km² per grid cell | 0.0209 km² per grid cell | 0.0209 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1900s | 0.0263 km² per grid cell | 0.0263 km² per grid cell | 0.0263 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1910s | 0.0332 km² per grid cell | 0.0332 km² per grid cell | 0.0332 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1920s | 0.0462 km² per grid cell | 0.0462 km² per grid cell | 0.0462 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1930s | 0.0641 km² per grid cell | 0.0641 km² per grid cell | 0.0641 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1940s | 0.0891 km² per grid cell | 0.0891 km² per grid cell | 0.0891 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1950s | 0.2042 km² per grid cell | 0.1237 km² per grid cell | 0.3013 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1960s | 0.4891 km² per grid cell | 0.3286 km² per grid cell | 0.6816 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1970s | 1.05 km² per grid cell | 0.7357 km² per grid cell | 1.44 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1980s | 2.25 km² per grid cell | 1.55 km² per grid cell | 3.14 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1990s | 5.22 km² per grid cell | 3.41 km² per grid cell | 7.62 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 2000s | 8.27 km² per grid cell | 8.23 km² per grid cell | 8.39 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 2010s | 8.35 km² per grid cell | 8.26 km² per grid cell | 8.47 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 2020s | 8.6 km² per grid cell | 8.5 km² per grid cell | 8.7 km² per grid cell | 6 |
Countries ranked near Svalbard and Jan Mayen
- 187 Malta 13.02 km² per grid cell compare
- 188 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 12.63 km² per grid cell compare
- 189 Grenada 12.37 km² per grid cell compare
- 191 Faroe Islands 6.63 km² per grid cell compare
- 192 Tonga 6.56 km² per grid cell compare
- 193 Montserrat 6.34 km² per grid cell compare
More reference data data for Svalbard and Jan Mayen
- Exposure to extreme precipitation — Annual precipitation change 113.43 Millimetres per year (2023)
- Exposure to extreme temperature — Annual temperature change 3.01 Degrees celsius (2023)
- Wildfire area burned by land cover type 0 hectares (2025)
- Area burned by wildfires by land cover type 0 hectares (2025)
- Red List Index 0.85 index (2025)
- Do more people live in urban or rural areas? 79.3% (1940)
- Member countries of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture 0 number (2025)
- Annual area burnt by wildfires by region 0 hectares (2025)
- Annual area burnt by wildfires 0 hectares (2026)
- Annual number of wildfires 0 wildfires (2026)
Frequently asked questions
- What is urban area over the long-term in Svalbard and Jan Mayen?
- Urban area over the long-term in Svalbard and Jan Mayen was 8.7 km² per grid cell in 2025, according to HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest urban area over the long-term recorded in Svalbard and Jan Mayen?
- The highest recorded value was 8.7 km² per grid cell in 2025.
- What is the lowest urban area over the long-term recorded in Svalbard and Jan Mayen?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 km² per grid cell in 1000.
- How does Svalbard and Jan Mayen rank for urban area over the long-term?
- Svalbard and Jan Mayen ranks 190th out of 202 countries with data for 2025.
- Is urban area over the long-term rising or falling in Svalbard and Jan Mayen?
- Over the last ten years it is up 4.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Svalbard and Jan Mayen data come from?
- The figures come from HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Urban area over the long-term. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Total built-up area of a country over time.