St. Kitts and Nevis - Urban population (% of total population)

Urban population (% of total population) in St. Kitts and Nevis was 30.84 as of 2020. Its highest value over the past 60 years was 35.88 in 1980, while its lowest value was 27.64 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 27.64
1961 28.27
1962 28.90
1963 29.55
1964 30.20
1965 30.86
1966 31.52
1967 32.20
1968 32.88
1969 33.57
1970 34.14
1971 34.32
1972 34.50
1973 34.67
1974 34.85
1975 35.03
1976 35.21
1977 35.39
1978 35.56
1979 35.74
1980 35.88
1981 35.75
1982 35.63
1983 35.50
1984 35.37
1985 35.24
1986 35.12
1987 34.99
1988 34.86
1989 34.74
1990 34.61
1991 34.47
1992 34.28
1993 34.09
1994 33.90
1995 33.72
1996 33.53
1997 33.34
1998 33.15
1999 32.97
2000 32.78
2001 32.60
2002 32.46
2003 32.31
2004 32.17
2005 32.03
2006 31.89
2007 31.74
2008 31.60
2009 31.46
2010 31.32
2011 31.18
2012 31.06
2013 30.96
2014 30.89
2015 30.83
2016 30.79
2017 30.77
2018 30.78
2019 30.80
2020 30.84

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