World - Urban population (% of total population)

Urban population (% of total population) in World was 56.16 as of 2020. Its highest value over the past 60 years was 56.16 in 2020, while its lowest value was 33.62 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 33.62
1961 34.12
1962 34.56
1963 34.94
1964 35.34
1965 35.56
1966 35.75
1967 35.96
1968 36.17
1969 36.37
1970 36.55
1971 36.75
1972 36.96
1973 37.19
1974 37.46
1975 37.69
1976 37.94
1977 38.20
1978 38.53
1979 38.94
1980 39.35
1981 39.77
1982 40.15
1983 40.50
1984 40.86
1985 41.22
1986 41.58
1987 41.95
1988 42.31
1989 42.67
1990 43.03
1991 43.40
1992 43.74
1993 44.11
1994 44.47
1995 44.84
1996 45.20
1997 45.57
1998 45.94
1999 46.31
2000 46.69
2001 47.14
2002 47.64
2003 48.14
2004 48.64
2005 49.15
2006 49.65
2007 50.14
2008 50.65
2009 51.15
2010 51.65
2011 52.10
2012 52.55
2013 53.01
2014 53.46
2015 53.92
2016 54.37
2017 54.83
2018 55.28
2019 55.72
2020 56.16

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