Pacific island small states - Urban population (% of total population)

Urban population (% of total population) in Pacific island small states was 39.26 as of 2020. Its highest value over the past 60 years was 39.26 in 2020, while its lowest value was 22.45 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 22.45
1961 22.89
1962 23.34
1963 23.80
1964 24.25
1965 24.70
1966 25.13
1967 25.49
1968 25.83
1969 26.18
1970 26.53
1971 26.85
1972 27.17
1973 27.48
1974 27.72
1975 27.92
1976 28.14
1977 28.28
1978 28.41
1979 28.56
1980 28.72
1981 28.92
1982 29.14
1983 29.38
1984 29.60
1985 29.81
1986 30.01
1987 30.39
1988 30.78
1989 31.15
1990 31.51
1991 31.88
1992 32.25
1993 32.62
1994 32.99
1995 33.33
1996 33.69
1997 33.92
1998 34.12
1999 34.32
2000 34.54
2001 34.76
2002 34.92
2003 35.08
2004 35.26
2005 35.45
2006 35.68
2007 35.95
2008 36.26
2009 36.58
2010 36.86
2011 37.11
2012 37.33
2013 37.55
2014 37.76
2015 37.99
2016 38.22
2017 38.47
2018 38.73
2019 38.99
2020 39.26

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