Central African Republic - Urban population (% of total population)

Urban population (% of total population) in Central African Republic was 42.20 as of 2020. Its highest value over the past 60 years was 42.20 in 2020, while its lowest value was 20.10 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 20.10
1961 20.75
1962 21.42
1963 22.10
1964 22.80
1965 23.52
1966 24.25
1967 25.00
1968 25.82
1969 26.65
1970 27.49
1971 28.36
1972 29.24
1973 30.13
1974 31.05
1975 31.97
1976 32.58
1977 32.90
1978 33.22
1979 33.55
1980 33.87
1981 34.20
1982 34.53
1983 34.86
1984 35.20
1985 35.53
1986 35.87
1987 36.21
1988 36.55
1989 36.74
1990 36.83
1991 36.91
1992 36.99
1993 37.07
1994 37.15
1995 37.23
1996 37.31
1997 37.39
1998 37.48
1999 37.56
2000 37.64
2001 37.72
2002 37.80
2003 37.88
2004 37.97
2005 38.07
2006 38.19
2007 38.34
2008 38.51
2009 38.69
2010 38.90
2011 39.14
2012 39.39
2013 39.66
2014 39.96
2015 40.28
2016 40.62
2017 40.98
2018 41.36
2019 41.77
2020 42.20

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