Afghanistan - Urban population (% of total population)

Urban population (% of total population) in Afghanistan was 26.03 as of 2020. Its highest value over the past 60 years was 26.03 in 2020, while its lowest value was 8.40 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 8.40
1961 8.68
1962 8.98
1963 9.28
1964 9.59
1965 9.90
1966 10.23
1967 10.57
1968 10.92
1969 11.28
1970 11.64
1971 12.02
1972 12.41
1973 12.81
1974 13.22
1975 13.64
1976 14.07
1977 14.52
1978 14.97
1979 15.44
1980 16.00
1981 16.56
1982 17.15
1983 17.75
1984 18.37
1985 19.00
1986 19.65
1987 20.31
1988 21.00
1989 21.09
1990 21.18
1991 21.27
1992 21.36
1993 21.44
1994 21.53
1995 21.62
1996 21.71
1997 21.81
1998 21.90
1999 21.99
2000 22.08
2001 22.17
2002 22.26
2003 22.35
2004 22.50
2005 22.70
2006 22.91
2007 23.11
2008 23.32
2009 23.53
2010 23.74
2011 23.95
2012 24.16
2013 24.37
2014 24.59
2015 24.80
2016 25.02
2017 25.25
2018 25.50
2019 25.75
2020 26.03

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