Marshall Islands - Urban population

The value for Urban population in Marshall Islands was 46,049 as of 2020. As the graph below shows, over the past 60 years this indicator reached a maximum value of 46,049 in 2020 and a minimum value of 5,222 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 5,222
1961 5,565
1962 5,964
1963 6,408
1964 6,887
1965 7,373
1966 7,869
1967 8,383
1968 9,147
1969 9,977
1970 10,909
1971 11,953
1972 13,107
1973 14,348
1974 14,986
1975 15,509
1976 15,973
1977 16,406
1978 16,823
1979 17,288
1980 17,824
1981 18,755
1982 19,869
1983 21,067
1984 22,368
1985 23,744
1986 25,217
1987 26,764
1988 28,318
1989 29,656
1990 30,748
1991 31,652
1992 32,366
1993 32,918
1994 33,340
1995 33,666
1996 33,880
1997 33,998
1998 34,097
1999 34,311
2000 34,807
2001 35,526
2002 36,458
2003 37,495
2004 38,480
2005 39,309
2006 39,947
2007 40,424
2008 40,784
2009 41,118
2010 41,464
2011 41,849
2012 42,249
2013 42,669
2014 43,107
2015 43,549
2016 44,001
2017 44,488
2018 44,995
2019 45,514
2020 46,049

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