Marshall Islands - Urban population (% of total population)

Urban population (% of total population) in Marshall Islands was 77.79 as of 2020. Its highest value over the past 60 years was 77.79 in 2020, while its lowest value was 35.58 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 35.58
1961 36.96
1962 38.36
1963 39.78
1964 41.21
1965 42.66
1966 44.13
1967 45.60
1968 48.23
1969 50.86
1970 53.49
1971 56.10
1972 58.69
1973 61.21
1974 61.09
1975 60.63
1976 60.17
1977 59.70
1978 59.24
1979 58.77
1980 58.30
1981 58.83
1982 59.61
1983 60.40
1984 61.18
1985 61.95
1986 62.71
1987 63.47
1988 64.22
1989 64.71
1990 65.05
1991 65.39
1992 65.73
1993 66.06
1994 66.40
1995 66.73
1996 67.06
1997 67.39
1998 67.71
1999 68.05
2000 68.58
2001 69.10
2002 69.62
2003 70.13
2004 70.64
2005 71.14
2006 71.64
2007 72.13
2008 72.61
2009 73.09
2010 73.57
2011 74.04
2012 74.50
2013 74.95
2014 75.38
2015 75.81
2016 76.23
2017 76.63
2018 77.03
2019 77.42
2020 77.79

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