Faroe Islands - Urban population

The value for Urban population in Faroe Islands was 20,718 as of 2020. As the graph below shows, over the past 60 years this indicator reached a maximum value of 20,718 in 2020 and a minimum value of 7,404 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:

1960
1965
1970
1975
1980
1985
1990
1995
2000
2005
2010
2015
2020
0
5,000
10,000
15,000
20,000
25,000
Year Value
1960 7,404
1961 7,766
1962 8,156
1963 8,561
1964 8,982
1965 9,414
1966 9,816
1967 10,076
1968 10,342
1969 10,613
1970 10,903
1971 11,212
1972 11,531
1973 11,861
1974 12,190
1975 12,522
1976 12,857
1977 13,191
1978 13,338
1979 13,428
1980 13,516
1981 13,599
1982 13,679
1983 13,760
1984 13,850
1985 13,946
1986 14,056
1987 14,179
1988 14,291
1989 14,351
1990 14,464
1991 14,681
1992 14,899
1993 15,084
1994 15,281
1995 15,545
1996 15,887
1997 16,188
1998 16,434
1999 16,649
2000 16,983
2001 17,472
2002 17,960
2003 18,366
2004 18,682
2005 18,988
2006 19,187
2007 19,293
2008 19,385
2009 19,475
2010 19,564
2011 19,646
2012 19,723
2013 19,813
2014 19,906
2015 20,009
2016 20,125
2017 20,255
2018 20,400
2019 20,554
2020 20,718

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