IDA blend - Urban population (% of total population)

Urban population (% of total population) in IDA blend was 43.19 as of 2020. Its highest value over the past 60 years was 43.19 in 2020, while its lowest value was 18.51 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 18.51
1961 18.83
1962 19.10
1963 19.38
1964 19.67
1965 19.97
1966 20.27
1967 20.58
1968 20.89
1969 21.21
1970 21.54
1971 21.96
1972 22.36
1973 22.79
1974 23.23
1975 23.67
1976 24.12
1977 24.54
1978 24.97
1979 25.39
1980 25.76
1981 26.20
1982 26.62
1983 27.04
1984 27.47
1985 27.91
1986 28.35
1987 28.79
1988 29.23
1989 29.68
1990 30.19
1991 30.56
1992 30.94
1993 31.31
1994 31.67
1995 32.04
1996 32.42
1997 32.79
1998 33.16
1999 33.51
2000 33.86
2001 34.32
2002 34.79
2003 35.24
2004 35.69
2005 36.15
2006 36.61
2007 37.09
2008 37.56
2009 38.04
2010 38.54
2011 39.02
2012 39.47
2013 39.92
2014 40.38
2015 40.84
2016 41.30
2017 41.76
2018 42.23
2019 42.71
2020 43.19

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