Brazil - Urban population (% of total population)

Urban population (% of total population) in Brazil was 87.07 as of 2020. Its highest value over the past 60 years was 87.07 in 2020, while its lowest value was 46.14 in 1960.

Definition: Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. The data are collected and smoothed by United Nations Population Division.

Source: United Nations Population Division. World Urbanization Prospects: 2018 Revision.

See also:

Year Value
1960 46.14
1961 47.12
1962 48.10
1963 49.08
1964 50.06
1965 51.04
1966 52.02
1967 52.99
1968 53.97
1969 54.94
1970 55.91
1971 56.89
1972 57.88
1973 58.86
1974 59.83
1975 60.79
1976 61.75
1977 62.69
1978 63.63
1979 64.55
1980 65.47
1981 66.37
1982 67.26
1983 68.14
1984 69.01
1985 69.86
1986 70.70
1987 71.53
1988 72.34
1989 73.14
1990 73.92
1991 74.69
1992 75.44
1993 76.18
1994 76.90
1995 77.61
1996 78.30
1997 79.05
1998 79.78
1999 80.50
2000 81.19
2001 81.55
2002 81.88
2003 82.20
2004 82.52
2005 82.83
2006 83.14
2007 83.45
2008 83.75
2009 84.04
2010 84.34
2011 84.63
2012 84.92
2013 85.21
2014 85.49
2015 85.77
2016 86.04
2017 86.31
2018 86.57
2019 86.82
2020 87.07

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. Percentages urban are the numbers of persons residing in an area defined as ''urban'' per 100 total population. They are calculated by the Statistics Division of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs. Particular caution should be used in interpreting the figures for percentage urban for different countries. 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: Weighted average

Periodicity: Annual

Classification

Topic: Environment Indicators

Sub-Topic: Density & urbanization