Mongolia - Urban population (% of total population)

Urban population (% of total population) in Mongolia was 68.66 as of 2020. Its highest value over the past 60 years was 68.66 in 2020, while its lowest value was 35.68 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 35.68
1961 37.68
1962 39.73
1963 41.06
1964 41.59
1965 42.11
1966 42.65
1967 43.18
1968 43.72
1969 44.34
1970 45.05
1971 45.77
1972 46.49
1973 47.21
1974 47.93
1975 48.66
1976 49.38
1977 50.10
1978 50.83
1979 51.49
1980 52.08
1981 52.68
1982 53.27
1983 53.86
1984 54.45
1985 55.04
1986 55.63
1987 56.22
1988 56.80
1989 57.08
1990 57.03
1991 56.99
1992 56.94
1993 56.90
1994 56.85
1995 56.81
1996 56.76
1997 56.71
1998 56.67
1999 56.62
2000 57.13
2001 58.22
2002 59.30
2003 60.38
2004 61.44
2005 62.49
2006 63.54
2007 64.56
2008 65.58
2009 66.58
2010 67.57
2011 67.96
2012 68.03
2013 68.10
2014 68.16
2015 68.23
2016 68.30
2017 68.36
2018 68.45
2019 68.54
2020 68.66

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