Chile - Urban population (% of total population)

Urban population (% of total population) in Chile was 87.73 as of 2020. Its highest value over the past 60 years was 87.73 in 2020, while its lowest value was 67.84 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 67.84
1961 68.66
1962 69.44
1963 70.20
1964 70.96
1965 71.70
1966 72.43
1967 73.15
1968 73.85
1969 74.55
1970 75.23
1971 75.88
1972 76.53
1973 77.16
1974 77.78
1975 78.39
1976 78.98
1977 79.57
1978 80.14
1979 80.70
1980 81.24
1981 81.78
1982 82.23
1983 82.36
1984 82.49
1985 82.62
1986 82.76
1987 82.89
1988 83.01
1989 83.14
1990 83.27
1991 83.40
1992 83.56
1993 83.90
1994 84.22
1995 84.55
1996 84.86
1997 85.17
1998 85.48
1999 85.78
2000 86.07
2001 86.36
2002 86.61
2003 86.67
2004 86.73
2005 86.78
2006 86.84
2007 86.90
2008 86.96
2009 87.02
2010 87.07
2011 87.13
2012 87.19
2013 87.25
2014 87.30
2015 87.36
2016 87.42
2017 87.49
2018 87.56
2019 87.64
2020 87.73

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