Belize - Urban population (% of total population)

Urban population (% of total population) in Belize was 46.03 as of 2020. Its highest value over the past 60 years was 54.03 in 1960, while its lowest value was 45.23 in 2010.

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 54.03
1961 53.72
1962 53.41
1963 53.10
1964 52.79
1965 52.48
1966 52.17
1967 51.86
1968 51.55
1969 51.24
1970 50.96
1971 50.81
1972 50.65
1973 50.49
1974 50.33
1975 50.17
1976 50.01
1977 49.85
1978 49.70
1979 49.54
1980 49.37
1981 49.18
1982 48.99
1983 48.80
1984 48.61
1985 48.42
1986 48.23
1987 48.04
1988 47.85
1989 47.66
1990 47.47
1991 47.27
1992 47.06
1993 46.85
1994 46.64
1995 46.43
1996 46.21
1997 46.00
1998 45.79
1999 45.58
2000 45.40
2001 45.38
2002 45.36
2003 45.35
2004 45.33
2005 45.31
2006 45.30
2007 45.28
2008 45.26
2009 45.25
2010 45.23
2011 45.23
2012 45.25
2013 45.28
2014 45.34
2015 45.41
2016 45.50
2017 45.60
2018 45.72
2019 45.87
2020 46.03

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