IDA only - Urban population

The value for Urban population in IDA only was 400,397,100 as of 2020. As the graph below shows, over the past 60 years this indicator reached a maximum value of 400,397,100 in 2020 and a minimum value of 29,368,510 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 29,368,510
1961 30,855,880
1962 32,464,230
1963 34,186,480
1964 36,035,040
1965 37,997,470
1966 40,045,000
1967 42,280,120
1968 44,648,610
1969 47,149,160
1970 49,702,980
1971 52,383,140
1972 55,205,290
1973 58,137,740
1974 61,199,730
1975 62,482,840
1976 65,887,610
1977 69,515,420
1978 73,366,140
1979 77,214,580
1980 81,492,330
1981 85,685,980
1982 89,403,100
1983 93,379,220
1984 97,695,660
1985 102,325,100
1986 107,148,000
1987 112,173,800
1988 117,434,100
1989 122,802,300
1990 128,446,900
1991 134,193,600
1992 140,046,300
1993 146,007,500
1994 151,845,100
1995 157,794,400
1996 163,852,000
1997 170,082,300
1998 176,415,200
1999 182,927,800
2000 189,704,600
2001 197,050,800
2002 204,834,000
2003 212,958,900
2004 221,343,700
2005 230,074,500
2006 239,110,400
2007 248,061,500
2008 257,943,900
2009 268,077,600
2010 278,416,200
2011 288,648,900
2012 298,982,800
2013 309,616,800
2014 320,688,700
2015 332,593,300
2016 345,026,300
2017 357,989,700
2018 371,523,900
2019 385,656,500
2020 400,397,100

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