OECD members - Urban population (% of total population)

Urban population (% of total population) in OECD members was 81.02 as of 2020. Its highest value over the past 60 years was 81.02 in 2020, while its lowest value was 62.15 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 62.15
1961 62.65
1962 63.15
1963 63.67
1964 64.19
1965 64.69
1966 65.19
1967 65.70
1968 66.21
1969 66.68
1970 67.15
1971 67.55
1972 67.92
1973 68.28
1974 68.64
1975 68.97
1976 69.24
1977 69.50
1978 69.76
1979 70.02
1980 70.27
1981 70.57
1982 70.86
1983 71.13
1984 71.39
1985 71.65
1986 71.92
1987 72.21
1988 72.49
1989 72.76
1990 73.04
1991 73.32
1992 73.59
1993 73.86
1994 74.13
1995 74.40
1996 74.65
1997 74.89
1998 75.13
1999 75.37
2000 75.61
2001 75.96
2002 76.36
2003 76.74
2004 77.11
2005 77.47
2006 77.80
2007 78.11
2008 78.41
2009 78.70
2010 78.99
2011 79.21
2012 79.41
2013 79.60
2014 79.79
2015 79.99
2016 80.19
2017 80.39
2018 80.59
2019 80.81
2020 81.02

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