Somalia - Urban population (% of total population)

Urban population (% of total population) in Somalia was 46.14 as of 2020. Its highest value over the past 60 years was 46.14 in 2020, while its lowest value was 17.31 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 17.31
1961 17.84
1962 18.37
1963 18.92
1964 19.45
1965 19.96
1966 20.49
1967 21.02
1968 21.56
1969 22.12
1970 22.68
1971 23.25
1972 23.84
1973 24.43
1974 25.03
1975 25.50
1976 25.75
1977 26.00
1978 26.25
1979 26.51
1980 26.76
1981 27.02
1982 27.28
1983 27.54
1984 27.80
1985 28.07
1986 28.33
1987 28.63
1988 28.97
1989 29.31
1990 29.66
1991 30.01
1992 30.36
1993 30.71
1994 31.07
1995 31.43
1996 31.79
1997 32.15
1998 32.51
1999 32.88
2000 33.25
2001 33.62
2002 33.99
2003 34.76
2004 35.53
2005 36.31
2006 37.10
2007 34.40
2008 36.01
2009 37.65
2010 39.31
2011 41.00
2012 41.56
2013 42.12
2014 42.68
2015 43.25
2016 43.82
2017 44.39
2018 44.97
2019 45.55
2020 46.14

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