Ecuador - Urban population

The value for Urban population in Ecuador was 11,320,850 as of 2020. As the graph below shows, over the past 60 years this indicator reached a maximum value of 11,320,850 in 2020 and a minimum value of 1,539,300 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 1,539,300
1961 1,611,002
1962 1,686,103
1963 1,762,138
1964 1,840,000
1965 1,921,394
1966 2,006,534
1967 2,095,346
1968 2,187,985
1969 2,284,101
1970 2,383,929
1971 2,487,286
1972 2,594,382
1973 2,704,940
1974 2,820,432
1975 2,963,008
1976 3,110,590
1977 3,262,937
1978 3,420,477
1979 3,583,321
1980 3,751,798
1981 3,925,690
1982 4,105,299
1983 4,282,801
1984 4,460,466
1985 4,643,203
1986 4,831,440
1987 5,024,855
1988 5,223,721
1989 5,427,384
1990 5,636,220
1991 5,834,112
1992 6,025,252
1993 6,219,532
1994 6,417,028
1995 6,617,214
1996 6,820,256
1997 7,025,664
1998 7,232,582
1999 7,439,883
2000 7,646,590
2001 7,851,984
2002 8,033,023
2003 8,197,752
2004 8,363,683
2005 8,532,064
2006 8,703,740
2007 8,878,732
2008 9,055,766
2009 9,233,269
2010 9,410,467
2011 9,580,934
2012 9,746,825
2013 9,915,342
2014 10,091,290
2015 10,278,100
2016 10,477,470
2017 10,687,240
2018 10,903,410
2019 11,116,710
2020 11,320,850

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