Algeria - Urban population (% of total population)

Urban population (% of total population) in Algeria was 73.73 as of 2020. Its highest value over the past 60 years was 73.73 in 2020, while its lowest value was 30.51 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 30.51
1961 31.80
1962 33.21
1963 34.66
1964 36.14
1965 37.64
1966 38.84
1967 39.00
1968 39.17
1969 39.33
1970 39.50
1971 39.67
1972 39.83
1973 40.00
1974 40.16
1975 40.33
1976 40.50
1977 40.93
1978 41.79
1979 42.67
1980 43.54
1981 44.42
1982 45.30
1983 46.19
1984 47.08
1985 47.97
1986 48.86
1987 49.72
1988 50.51
1989 51.30
1990 52.09
1991 52.87
1992 53.66
1993 54.44
1994 55.22
1995 56.00
1996 56.77
1997 57.54
1998 58.31
1999 59.12
2000 59.92
2001 60.71
2002 61.50
2003 62.28
2004 63.06
2005 63.83
2006 64.59
2007 65.35
2008 66.10
2009 66.83
2010 67.54
2011 68.24
2012 68.92
2013 69.58
2014 70.22
2015 70.85
2016 71.46
2017 72.05
2018 72.63
2019 73.19
2020 73.73

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