IDA only - Urban population (% of total population)

Urban population (% of total population) in IDA only was 35.35 as of 2020. Its highest value over the past 60 years was 35.35 in 2020, while its lowest value was 11.37 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 11.37
1961 11.66
1962 11.98
1963 12.30
1964 12.65
1965 13.00
1966 13.35
1967 13.73
1968 14.12
1969 14.53
1970 14.94
1971 15.36
1972 15.80
1973 16.25
1974 16.70
1975 16.65
1976 17.13
1977 17.63
1978 18.14
1979 18.62
1980 19.15
1981 19.63
1982 19.97
1983 20.32
1984 20.72
1985 21.14
1986 21.56
1987 21.98
1988 22.41
1989 22.81
1990 23.23
1991 23.62
1992 23.98
1993 24.33
1994 24.64
1995 24.94
1996 25.25
1997 25.56
1998 25.87
1999 26.17
2000 26.48
2001 26.84
2002 27.23
2003 27.63
2004 28.03
2005 28.45
2006 28.88
2007 29.27
2008 29.74
2009 30.21
2010 30.68
2011 31.11
2012 31.53
2013 31.95
2014 32.38
2015 32.85
2016 33.33
2017 33.82
2018 34.32
2019 34.83
2020 35.35

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