Virgin Islands - Urban population

The value for Urban population in Virgin Islands was 101,974 as of 2020. As the graph below shows, over the past 60 years this indicator reached a maximum value of 102,718 in 2014 and a minimum value of 18,355 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 18,355
1961 19,847
1962 20,734
1963 24,120
1964 25,276
1965 27,526
1966 29,839
1967 32,344
1968 37,397
1969 41,232
1970 44,174
1971 50,208
1972 54,905
1973 61,467
1974 66,711
1975 71,094
1976 73,363
1977 72,044
1978 75,091
1979 76,204
1980 79,855
1981 80,915
1982 81,947
1983 83,005
1984 84,015
1985 84,921
1986 85,733
1987 86,498
1988 87,230
1989 87,965
1990 91,160
1991 92,529
1992 93,936
1993 95,290
1994 96,515
1995 97,507
1996 98,277
1997 99,010
1998 99,649
1999 100,159
2000 100,587
2001 100,749
2002 100,952
2003 101,182
2004 101,373
2005 101,581
2006 101,716
2007 101,894
2008 102,152
2009 102,354
2010 102,499
2011 102,617
2012 102,691
2013 102,715
2014 102,718
2015 102,703
2016 102,656
2017 102,564
2018 102,422
2019 102,223
2020 101,974

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