Tonga - Urban population (% of total population)

Urban population (% of total population) in Tonga was 23.10 as of 2020. Its highest value over the past 60 years was 23.44 in 2011, while its lowest value was 17.55 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 17.55
1961 17.93
1962 18.31
1963 18.70
1964 19.10
1965 19.50
1966 19.91
1967 20.10
1968 20.13
1969 20.16
1970 20.19
1971 20.22
1972 20.25
1973 20.28
1974 20.31
1975 20.34
1976 20.37
1977 20.50
1978 20.72
1979 20.94
1980 21.15
1981 21.37
1982 21.59
1983 21.82
1984 22.04
1985 22.27
1986 22.50
1987 22.61
1988 22.64
1989 22.67
1990 22.70
1991 22.74
1992 22.77
1993 22.80
1994 22.83
1995 22.86
1996 22.90
1997 22.93
1998 22.96
1999 22.98
2000 23.01
2001 23.04
2002 23.07
2003 23.10
2004 23.13
2005 23.16
2006 23.18
2007 23.23
2008 23.28
2009 23.34
2010 23.39
2011 23.44
2012 23.44
2013 23.38
2014 23.33
2015 23.28
2016 23.22
2017 23.17
2018 23.13
2019 23.11
2020 23.10

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