Faroe Islands - Urban population (% of total population)

Urban population (% of total population) in Faroe Islands was 42.40 as of 2020. Its highest value over the past 60 years was 42.40 in 2020, while its lowest value was 21.38 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 21.38
1961 22.14
1962 22.96
1963 23.81
1964 24.67
1965 25.55
1966 26.33
1967 26.72
1968 27.12
1969 27.52
1970 27.95
1971 28.42
1972 28.89
1973 29.36
1974 29.84
1975 30.33
1976 30.82
1977 31.31
1978 31.36
1979 31.27
1980 31.19
1981 31.10
1982 31.02
1983 30.93
1984 30.85
1985 30.77
1986 30.68
1987 30.60
1988 30.52
1989 30.43
1990 30.59
1991 31.15
1992 31.87
1993 32.60
1994 33.33
1995 34.07
1996 34.82
1997 35.35
1998 35.65
1999 35.86
2000 36.34
2001 37.18
2002 38.02
2003 38.71
2004 39.25
2005 39.78
2006 40.15
2007 40.34
2008 40.54
2009 40.73
2010 40.93
2011 41.09
2012 41.23
2013 41.36
2014 41.50
2015 41.64
2016 41.78
2017 41.91
2018 42.06
2019 42.23
2020 42.40

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