French Polynesia - Urban population (% of total population)

Urban population (% of total population) in French Polynesia was 61.98 as of 2020. Its highest value over the past 60 years was 61.98 in 2020, while its lowest value was 42.28 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 42.28
1961 43.22
1962 44.16
1963 45.39
1964 46.78
1965 48.18
1966 49.58
1967 50.98
1968 52.38
1969 53.77
1970 55.16
1971 56.20
1972 56.72
1973 57.23
1974 57.74
1975 58.25
1976 58.76
1977 59.17
1978 59.12
1979 59.06
1980 59.00
1981 58.95
1982 58.89
1983 58.84
1984 58.74
1985 58.64
1986 58.53
1987 58.42
1988 58.31
1989 58.09
1990 57.85
1991 57.61
1992 57.37
1993 57.12
1994 56.88
1995 56.64
1996 56.39
1997 56.29
1998 56.21
1999 56.13
2000 56.05
2001 55.97
2002 55.89
2003 56.24
2004 56.83
2005 57.42
2006 58.00
2007 58.59
2008 59.17
2009 59.74
2010 60.32
2011 60.89
2012 61.46
2013 61.58
2014 61.63
2015 61.68
2016 61.73
2017 61.78
2018 61.83
2019 61.90
2020 61.98

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