Jordan - Urban population (% of total population)

Urban population (% of total population) in Jordan was 91.42 as of 2020. Its highest value over the past 60 years was 91.42 in 2020, while its lowest value was 50.88 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 50.88
1961 52.41
1962 53.22
1963 53.57
1964 53.91
1965 54.26
1966 54.61
1967 54.96
1968 55.30
1969 55.63
1970 55.97
1971 56.31
1972 56.65
1973 56.98
1974 57.32
1975 57.65
1976 57.98
1977 58.32
1978 58.65
1979 58.98
1980 60.03
1981 61.46
1982 62.88
1983 64.28
1984 65.65
1985 67.00
1986 68.32
1987 69.61
1988 70.87
1989 72.10
1990 73.29
1991 74.46
1992 75.59
1993 76.68
1994 77.74
1995 78.21
1996 78.22
1997 78.23
1998 78.25
1999 78.26
2000 78.27
2001 78.28
2002 78.30
2003 78.31
2004 78.32
2005 79.49
2006 80.97
2007 82.37
2008 83.69
2009 84.93
2010 86.09
2011 87.17
2012 88.19
2013 89.13
2014 90.00
2015 90.26
2016 90.51
2017 90.75
2018 90.98
2019 91.20
2020 91.42

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