Pacific island small states - Urban population

The value for Urban population in Pacific island small states was 992,816 as of 2020. As the graph below shows, over the past 60 years this indicator reached a maximum value of 992,816 in 2020 and a minimum value of 194,216 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 194,216
1961 204,488
1962 215,515
1963 227,032
1964 238,819
1965 250,575
1966 262,246
1967 272,995
1968 283,620
1969 294,405
1970 305,242
1971 315,927
1972 326,609
1973 337,371
1974 347,385
1975 357,276
1976 367,461
1977 376,978
1978 386,587
1979 396,817
1980 407,866
1981 420,244
1982 433,616
1983 447,282
1984 460,429
1985 472,460
1986 483,106
1987 495,605
1988 507,951
1989 520,519
1990 533,902
1991 548,654
1992 564,595
1993 581,266
1994 598,018
1995 613,818
1996 629,403
1997 642,180
1998 654,110
1999 665,754
2000 677,908
2001 689,730
2002 700,547
2003 711,326
2004 722,949
2005 735,487
2006 749,662
2007 765,265
2008 782,356
2009 799,680
2010 816,236
2011 831,892
2012 846,959
2013 861,867
2014 877,394
2015 894,031
2016 911,922
2017 930,931
2018 950,975
2019 971,682
2020 992,816

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