Arab World - Urban population

The value for Urban population in Arab World was 259,344,900 as of 2020. As the graph below shows, over the past 60 years this indicator reached a maximum value of 259,344,900 in 2020 and a minimum value of 28,797,170 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 28,797,170
1961 30,292,840
1962 31,856,710
1963 33,513,050
1964 35,275,350
1965 37,163,920
1966 39,098,510
1967 41,001,100
1968 42,996,400
1969 45,072,700
1970 47,229,280
1971 49,429,100
1972 51,727,560
1973 54,115,420
1974 56,549,740
1975 59,099,790
1976 61,785,180
1977 64,577,340
1978 67,503,320
1979 70,549,320
1980 73,737,080
1981 77,054,760
1982 80,484,020
1983 84,070,460
1984 87,839,720
1985 91,672,510
1986 95,591,260
1987 99,470,780
1988 103,272,600
1989 107,044,100
1990 112,206,700
1991 116,156,900
1992 118,292,200
1993 122,375,800
1994 126,184,100
1995 131,351,800
1996 134,842,500
1997 138,406,800
1998 142,044,200
1999 145,772,400
2000 149,612,200
2001 153,594,300
2002 157,691,900
2003 162,002,800
2004 166,571,000
2005 171,562,800
2006 176,916,100
2007 182,152,300
2008 188,077,300
2009 194,146,200
2010 200,303,100
2011 206,243,700
2012 212,084,900
2013 217,948,600
2014 223,788,400
2015 229,821,000
2016 235,741,400
2017 241,572,800
2018 247,404,500
2019 253,306,200
2020 259,344,900

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