French Polynesia - Urban population

The value for Urban population in French Polynesia was 174,090 as of 2020. As the graph below shows, over the past 60 years this indicator reached a maximum value of 174,090 in 2020 and a minimum value of 33,013 in 1960.

Definition: Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated using World Bank population estimates and urban ratios from the United Nations World Urbanization Prospects. Aggregation of urban and rural population may not add up to total population because of different country coverages.

Source: World Bank staff estimates based on the United Nations Population Division's World Urbanization Prospects: 2018 Revision.

See also:

Year Value
1960 33,013
1961 34,878
1962 36,941
1963 39,419
1964 42,166
1965 45,018
1966 47,951
1967 50,974
1968 54,124
1969 57,437
1970 60,948
1971 64,288
1972 67,176
1973 70,189
1974 73,286
1975 76,444
1976 79,654
1977 82,776
1978 85,287
1979 87,841
1980 90,450
1981 93,111
1982 95,805
1983 98,524
1984 101,184
1985 103,798
1986 106,406
1987 109,003
1988 111,524
1989 113,706
1990 115,650
1991 117,361
1992 118,886
1993 120,328
1994 121,837
1995 123,505
1996 125,375
1997 127,685
1998 130,149
1999 132,579
2000 134,894
2001 137,079
2002 139,148
2003 142,127
2004 145,485
2005 148,584
2006 151,389
2007 153,913
2008 156,236
2009 158,469
2010 160,714
2011 163,001
2012 165,322
2013 166,479
2014 167,465
2015 168,468
2016 169,507
2017 170,591
2018 171,696
2019 172,869
2020 174,090

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. To estimate urban populations, UN ratios of urban to total population were applied to the World Bank's estimates of total population. 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: Sum

Periodicity: Annual

Classification

Topic: Environment Indicators

Sub-Topic: Density & urbanization