Qatar - Urban population (% of total population)

Urban population (% of total population) in Qatar was 99.24 as of 2020. Its highest value over the past 60 years was 99.24 in 2020, while its lowest value was 85.28 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 85.28
1961 85.69
1962 86.10
1963 86.50
1964 86.78
1965 87.05
1966 87.32
1967 87.59
1968 87.85
1969 88.10
1970 88.35
1971 88.60
1972 88.68
1973 88.76
1974 88.83
1975 88.91
1976 88.99
1977 89.06
1978 89.14
1979 89.21
1980 89.36
1981 89.51
1982 89.66
1983 89.81
1984 89.96
1985 90.10
1986 90.40
1987 91.06
1988 91.67
1989 92.25
1990 92.79
1991 93.29
1992 93.76
1993 94.20
1994 94.61
1995 95.00
1996 95.36
1997 95.66
1998 95.89
1999 96.11
2000 96.31
2001 96.51
2002 96.69
2003 96.87
2004 97.09
2005 97.40
2006 97.67
2007 97.92
2008 98.14
2009 98.34
2010 98.50
2011 98.60
2012 98.70
2013 98.79
2014 98.87
2015 98.95
2016 99.02
2017 99.08
2018 99.14
2019 99.19
2020 99.24

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