Northern Mariana Islands - Urban population (% of total population)

Urban population (% of total population) in Northern Mariana Islands was 91.80 as of 2020. Its highest value over the past 60 years was 91.80 in 2020, while its lowest value was 51.22 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:

1960
1965
1970
1975
1980
1985
1990
1995
2000
2005
2010
2015
2020
0.00
20.00
40.00
60.00
80.00
100.00
120.00
Year Value
1960 51.22
1961 52.74
1962 54.26
1963 55.77
1964 57.27
1965 58.76
1966 60.23
1967 61.69
1968 64.59
1969 67.38
1970 70.06
1971 72.61
1972 75.02
1973 77.28
1974 79.02
1975 80.55
1976 82.01
1977 83.37
1978 84.65
1979 85.85
1980 86.78
1981 87.12
1982 87.44
1983 87.76
1984 88.08
1985 88.38
1986 88.68
1987 88.97
1988 89.26
1989 89.54
1990 89.73
1991 89.70
1992 89.66
1993 89.63
1994 89.59
1995 89.56
1996 89.66
1997 89.78
1998 89.91
1999 90.04
2000 90.15
2001 90.24
2002 90.32
2003 90.40
2004 90.48
2005 90.56
2006 90.64
2007 90.72
2008 90.80
2009 90.87
2010 90.95
2011 91.03
2012 91.11
2013 91.19
2014 91.27
2015 91.36
2016 91.44
2017 91.53
2018 91.62
2019 91.71
2020 91.80

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