São Tomé and Principe - Urban population

The value for Urban population in São Tomé and Principe was 162,955 as of 2020. As the graph below shows, over the past 60 years this indicator reached a maximum value of 162,955 in 2020 and a minimum value of 10,334 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 10,334
1961 10,856
1962 11,586
1963 12,330
1964 13,167
1965 14,166
1966 15,383
1967 16,822
1968 18,453
1969 20,200
1970 22,012
1971 23,060
1972 23,816
1973 24,568
1974 25,381
1975 26,303
1976 27,355
1977 28,519
1978 29,741
1979 30,943
1980 32,072
1981 33,101
1982 34,644
1983 36,269
1984 38,008
1985 39,923
1986 42,057
1987 44,390
1988 46,881
1989 49,446
1990 52,033
1991 54,625
1992 57,010
1993 59,361
1994 61,701
1995 64,037
1996 66,354
1997 68,663
1998 71,008
1999 73,435
2000 76,003
2001 78,716
2002 81,916
2003 85,379
2004 89,124
2005 93,168
2006 97,568
2007 102,306
2008 107,259
2009 112,250
2010 117,155
2011 121,902
2012 126,525
2013 131,011
2014 135,469
2015 139,954
2016 144,474
2017 149,036
2018 153,638
2019 158,271
2020 162,955

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