Lower middle income - Urban population (% of total population)

Urban population (% of total population) in Lower middle income was 42.44 as of 2020. Its highest value over the past 60 years was 42.44 in 2020, while its lowest value was 19.68 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 19.68
1961 19.92
1962 20.20
1963 20.48
1964 20.77
1965 21.06
1966 21.34
1967 21.62
1968 21.92
1969 22.21
1970 22.51
1971 22.84
1972 23.23
1973 23.63
1974 24.04
1975 24.32
1976 24.74
1977 25.15
1978 25.58
1979 26.01
1980 26.44
1981 26.88
1982 27.24
1983 27.62
1984 28.00
1985 28.39
1986 28.79
1987 29.18
1988 29.58
1989 29.96
1990 30.39
1991 30.73
1992 31.06
1993 31.39
1994 31.72
1995 32.04
1996 32.37
1997 32.70
1998 33.03
1999 33.37
2000 33.71
2001 34.05
2002 34.45
2003 34.85
2004 35.26
2005 35.67
2006 36.08
2007 36.50
2008 36.93
2009 37.36
2010 37.79
2011 38.23
2012 38.68
2013 39.13
2014 39.58
2015 40.04
2016 40.51
2017 40.98
2018 41.46
2019 41.95
2020 42.44

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