Small states - Urban population (% of total population)

Urban population (% of total population) in Small states was 59.57 as of 2020. Its highest value over the past 60 years was 59.57 in 2020, while its lowest value was 29.39 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 29.39
1961 29.86
1962 30.35
1963 30.84
1964 31.37
1965 31.90
1966 32.43
1967 32.92
1968 33.42
1969 33.94
1970 34.46
1971 34.99
1972 35.52
1973 36.05
1974 36.63
1975 37.22
1976 37.84
1977 38.42
1978 39.00
1979 39.57
1980 40.14
1981 40.62
1982 41.11
1983 41.53
1984 41.97
1985 42.44
1986 42.95
1987 43.53
1988 44.13
1989 44.72
1990 45.28
1991 45.80
1992 46.14
1993 46.42
1994 46.70
1995 47.02
1996 47.36
1997 47.72
1998 48.08
1999 48.47
2000 48.90
2001 49.32
2002 49.74
2003 50.19
2004 50.69
2005 51.26
2006 51.88
2007 52.62
2008 53.38
2009 54.11
2010 54.79
2011 55.40
2012 55.95
2013 56.44
2014 56.91
2015 57.37
2016 57.83
2017 58.28
2018 58.72
2019 59.16
2020 59.57

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