Nepal - Urban population

The value for Urban population in Nepal was 5,995,190 as of 2020. As the graph below shows, over the past 60 years this indicator reached a maximum value of 5,995,190 in 2020 and a minimum value of 351,656 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 351,656
1961 366,644
1962 376,845
1963 387,387
1964 398,467
1965 410,058
1966 422,322
1967 435,171
1968 448,724
1969 462,853
1970 477,672
1971 493,576
1972 528,240
1973 565,368
1974 605,351
1975 648,204
1976 694,342
1977 743,793
1978 796,725
1979 853,610
1980 914,649
1981 979,815
1982 1,040,659
1983 1,105,147
1984 1,173,362
1985 1,245,155
1986 1,320,559
1987 1,400,026
1988 1,484,550
1989 1,575,389
1990 1,673,891
1991 1,781,425
1992 1,910,490
1993 2,048,792
1994 2,195,197
1995 2,348,124
1996 2,507,255
1997 2,672,682
1998 2,844,419
1999 3,022,677
2000 3,207,389
2001 3,395,692
2002 3,520,929
2003 3,646,258
2004 3,772,484
2005 3,900,034
2006 4,030,431
2007 4,163,436
2008 4,294,653
2009 4,418,039
2010 4,529,575
2011 4,626,212
2012 4,711,768
2013 4,795,227
2014 4,892,046
2015 5,013,180
2016 5,164,239
2017 5,343,055
2018 5,546,094
2019 5,765,514
2020 5,995,190

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