Thailand - Urban population (% of total population)

Urban population (% of total population) in Thailand was 51.43 as of 2020. Its highest value over the past 60 years was 51.43 in 2020, while its lowest value was 19.67 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 19.67
1961 19.78
1962 19.89
1963 20.00
1964 20.11
1965 20.22
1966 20.33
1967 20.44
1968 20.56
1969 20.67
1970 20.89
1971 21.44
1972 22.01
1973 22.58
1974 23.16
1975 23.76
1976 24.37
1977 24.98
1978 25.61
1979 26.24
1980 26.79
1981 27.05
1982 27.31
1983 27.57
1984 27.83
1985 28.10
1986 28.36
1987 28.63
1988 28.90
1989 29.17
1990 29.42
1991 29.59
1992 29.76
1993 29.93
1994 30.11
1995 30.28
1996 30.45
1997 30.62
1998 30.80
1999 30.97
2000 31.39
2001 32.55
2002 33.73
2003 34.94
2004 36.17
2005 37.41
2006 38.67
2007 39.95
2008 41.24
2009 42.54
2010 43.86
2011 44.70
2012 45.45
2013 46.19
2014 46.94
2015 47.69
2016 48.45
2017 49.20
2018 49.95
2019 50.69
2020 51.43

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