Pakistan - Urban population (% of total population)

Urban population (% of total population) in Pakistan was 37.17 as of 2020. Its highest value over the past 60 years was 37.17 in 2020, while its lowest value was 22.10 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 22.10
1961 22.50
1962 22.75
1963 23.00
1964 23.26
1965 23.51
1966 23.77
1967 24.03
1968 24.29
1969 24.55
1970 24.82
1971 25.08
1972 25.35
1973 25.67
1974 26.01
1975 26.34
1976 26.68
1977 27.02
1978 27.37
1979 27.72
1980 28.07
1981 28.38
1982 28.62
1983 28.86
1984 29.10
1985 29.34
1986 29.59
1987 29.83
1988 30.08
1989 30.33
1990 30.58
1991 30.83
1992 31.08
1993 31.33
1994 31.58
1995 31.84
1996 32.09
1997 32.35
1998 32.59
1999 32.78
2000 32.98
2001 33.18
2002 33.38
2003 33.58
2004 33.78
2005 33.98
2006 34.18
2007 34.39
2008 34.59
2009 34.79
2010 35.00
2011 35.20
2012 35.41
2013 35.61
2014 35.82
2015 36.03
2016 36.23
2017 36.44
2018 36.67
2019 36.91
2020 37.17

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