Micronesia - Urban population

The value for Urban population in Micronesia was 26,378 as of 2020. As the graph below shows, over the past 60 years this indicator reached a maximum value of 27,095 in 1994 and a minimum value of 9,931 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 9,931
1961 10,361
1962 10,799
1963 11,257
1964 11,755
1965 12,292
1966 12,891
1967 13,536
1968 14,185
1969 14,766
1970 15,236
1971 15,564
1972 15,774
1973 15,936
1974 16,077
1975 16,322
1976 16,718
1977 17,241
1978 17,873
1979 18,564
1980 19,288
1981 19,924
1982 20,557
1983 21,192
1984 21,810
1985 22,394
1986 22,928
1987 23,410
1988 23,870
1989 24,347
1990 24,864
1991 25,438
1992 26,042
1993 26,619
1994 27,095
1995 26,957
1996 26,507
1997 25,913
1998 25,227
1999 24,516
2000 23,984
2001 23,931
2002 23,899
2003 23,871
2004 23,809
2005 23,700
2006 23,524
2007 23,308
2008 23,103
2009 22,968
2010 22,948
2011 23,074
2012 23,330
2013 23,679
2014 24,066
2015 24,451
2016 24,827
2017 25,199
2018 25,573
2019 25,963
2020 26,378

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