Lao PDR - Urban population (% of total population)

Urban population (% of total population) in Lao PDR was 36.29 as of 2020. Its highest value over the past 60 years was 36.29 in 2020, while its lowest value was 7.95 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 7.95
1961 8.02
1962 8.10
1963 8.17
1964 8.25
1965 8.32
1966 8.40
1967 8.69
1968 8.99
1969 9.30
1970 9.63
1971 9.96
1972 10.30
1973 10.60
1974 10.84
1975 11.08
1976 11.33
1977 11.58
1978 11.84
1979 12.11
1980 12.38
1981 12.65
1982 12.93
1983 13.21
1984 13.50
1985 13.80
1986 14.12
1987 14.44
1988 14.77
1989 15.10
1990 15.44
1991 15.78
1992 16.13
1993 16.49
1994 16.85
1995 17.38
1996 18.23
1997 19.12
1998 20.04
1999 20.99
2000 21.98
2001 22.99
2002 24.04
2003 25.13
2004 26.24
2005 27.19
2006 27.75
2007 28.32
2008 28.89
2009 29.48
2010 30.06
2011 30.66
2012 31.26
2013 31.87
2014 32.49
2015 33.11
2016 33.74
2017 34.37
2018 35.00
2019 35.65
2020 36.29

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