Brazil - Urban population

The value for Urban population in Brazil was 185,081,900 as of 2020. As the graph below shows, over the past 60 years this indicator reached a maximum value of 185,081,900 in 2020 and a minimum value of 33,302,780 in 1960.

Definition: Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated using World Bank population estimates and urban ratios from the United Nations World Urbanization Prospects. Aggregation of urban and rural population may not add up to total population because of different country coverages.

Source: World Bank staff estimates based on the United Nations Population Division's World Urbanization Prospects: 2018 Revision.

See also:

Year Value
1960 33,302,780
1961 35,016,990
1962 36,802,630
1963 38,660,040
1964 40,580,110
1965 42,551,350
1966 44,575,890
1967 46,652,820
1968 48,781,910
1969 50,954,980
1970 53,176,880
1971 55,461,940
1972 57,797,620
1973 60,184,830
1974 62,641,530
1975 65,175,660
1976 67,790,420
1977 70,478,350
1978 73,245,840
1979 76,091,700
1980 79,015,950
1981 82,013,620
1982 85,085,300
1983 88,209,010
1984 91,357,900
1985 94,505,180
1986 97,647,140
1987 100,778,400
1988 103,903,000
1989 107,023,100
1990 110,146,200
1991 113,265,900
1992 116,379,400
1993 119,489,200
1994 122,608,500
1995 125,743,600
1996 128,896,600
1997 132,175,400
1998 135,456,400
1999 138,709,600
2000 141,915,800
2001 144,508,700
2002 147,005,300
2003 149,452,700
2004 151,844,000
2005 154,176,500
2006 156,448,000
2007 158,660,000
2008 160,823,500
2009 162,950,000
2010 165,055,100
2011 167,158,500
2012 169,240,800
2013 171,300,700
2014 173,346,800
2015 175,375,400
2016 177,386,800
2017 179,379,300
2018 181,335,500
2019 183,241,600
2020 185,081,900

Development Relevance: Explosive growth of cities globally signifies the demographic transition from rural to urban, and is associated with shifts from an agriculture-based economy to mass industry, technology, and service. In principle, cities offer a more favorable setting for the resolution of social and environmental problems than rural areas. Cities generate jobs and income, and deliver education, health care and other services. Cities also present opportunities for social mobilization and women's empowerment.

Limitations and Exceptions: Aggregation of urban and rural population may not add up to total population because of different country coverage. There is no consistent and universally accepted standard for distinguishing urban from rural areas, in part because of the wide variety of situations across countries. Most countries use an urban classification related to the size or characteristics of settlements. Some define urban areas based on the presence of certain infrastructure and services. And other countries designate urban areas based on administrative arrangements. Because of national differences in the characteristics that distinguish urban from rural areas, the distinction between urban and rural population is not amenable to a single definition that would be applicable to all countries. Estimates of the world's urban population would change significantly if China, India, and a few other populous nations were to change their definition of urban centers. Because the estimates of city and metropolitan area are based on national definitions of what constitutes a city or metropolitan area, cross-country comparisons should be made with caution.

Statistical Concept and Methodology: Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. The indicator is calculated using World Bank population estimates and urban ratios from the United Nations World Urbanization Prospects. To estimate urban populations, UN ratios of urban to total population were applied to the World Bank's estimates of total population. Countries differ in the way they classify population as "urban" or "rural." The population of a city or metropolitan area depends on the boundaries chosen.

Aggregation method: Sum

Periodicity: Annual

Classification

Topic: Environment Indicators

Sub-Topic: Density & urbanization