Maldives - Urban population

The value for Urban population in Maldives was 219,833 as of 2020. As the graph below shows, over the past 60 years this indicator reached a maximum value of 219,833 in 2020 and a minimum value of 10,042 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 10,042
1961 10,368
1962 10,713
1963 11,066
1964 11,424
1965 11,769
1966 11,977
1967 12,184
1968 12,655
1969 13,170
1970 13,759
1971 15,321
1972 17,093
1973 19,073
1974 21,249
1975 23,606
1976 26,139
1977 28,864
1978 31,210
1979 33,118
1980 35,215
1981 37,523
1982 40,040
1983 42,754
1984 45,628
1985 48,316
1986 50,184
1987 52,072
1988 53,972
1989 55,871
1990 57,664
1991 59,219
1992 60,752
1993 62,223
1994 63,602
1995 65,157
1996 67,407
1997 69,597
1998 71,822
1999 74,217
2000 77,409
2001 82,626
2002 88,379
2003 94,594
2004 101,130
2005 107,866
2006 113,947
2007 117,981
2008 122,302
2009 127,295
2010 133,250
2011 140,208
2012 148,036
2013 156,616
2014 165,768
2015 175,274
2016 185,228
2017 195,482
2018 205,291
2019 213,646
2020 219,833

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