Virgin Islands - Urban population (% of total population)

Urban population (% of total population) in Virgin Islands was 95.94 as of 2020. Its highest value over the past 60 years was 95.94 in 2020, while its lowest value was 56.48 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 56.48
1961 57.86
1962 59.24
1963 60.60
1964 61.95
1965 63.28
1966 64.59
1967 65.87
1968 67.14
1969 68.38
1970 69.59
1971 70.78
1972 71.94
1973 73.07
1974 74.17
1975 75.25
1976 76.29
1977 77.30
1978 78.28
1979 79.23
1980 80.15
1981 81.03
1982 81.89
1983 82.72
1984 83.51
1985 84.28
1986 85.02
1987 85.73
1988 86.41
1989 87.06
1990 87.69
1991 88.29
1992 88.86
1993 89.41
1994 89.93
1995 90.44
1996 90.92
1997 91.37
1998 91.81
1999 92.23
2000 92.59
2001 92.81
2002 93.04
2003 93.25
2004 93.46
2005 93.66
2006 93.86
2007 94.05
2008 94.24
2009 94.42
2010 94.59
2011 94.76
2012 94.92
2013 95.07
2014 95.21
2015 95.35
2016 95.48
2017 95.60
2018 95.72
2019 95.83
2020 95.94

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