Caribbean small states - Urban population (% of total population)

Urban population (% of total population) in Caribbean small states was 51.56 as of 2020. Its highest value over the past 60 years was 51.56 in 2020, while its lowest value was 34.98 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 34.98
1961 35.51
1962 36.04
1963 36.58
1964 37.11
1965 37.64
1966 38.17
1967 38.70
1968 39.24
1969 39.77
1970 40.28
1971 40.74
1972 41.30
1973 41.94
1974 42.59
1975 43.23
1976 43.87
1977 44.51
1978 45.15
1979 45.80
1980 46.41
1981 46.73
1982 47.06
1983 47.26
1984 47.47
1985 47.69
1986 47.91
1987 48.14
1988 48.37
1989 48.59
1990 48.80
1991 48.97
1992 49.12
1993 49.26
1994 49.39
1995 49.53
1996 49.68
1997 49.82
1998 49.96
1999 50.11
2000 50.25
2001 50.33
2002 50.36
2003 50.38
2004 50.40
2005 50.41
2006 50.42
2007 50.42
2008 50.43
2009 50.43
2010 50.43
2011 50.46
2012 50.52
2013 50.59
2014 50.68
2015 50.78
2016 50.91
2017 51.04
2018 51.20
2019 51.37
2020 51.56

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