Arab World - Urban population (% of total population)

Urban population (% of total population) in Arab World was 59.47 as of 2020. Its highest value over the past 60 years was 59.47 in 2020, while its lowest value was 31.23 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 31.23
1961 31.98
1962 32.73
1963 33.50
1964 34.30
1965 35.15
1966 35.95
1967 36.64
1968 37.34
1969 38.06
1970 38.78
1971 39.49
1972 40.22
1973 40.95
1974 41.60
1975 42.20
1976 42.77
1977 43.29
1978 43.80
1979 44.31
1980 44.85
1981 45.41
1982 45.97
1983 46.57
1984 47.22
1985 47.83
1986 48.44
1987 48.98
1988 49.44
1989 49.85
1990 50.40
1991 50.78
1992 50.78
1993 51.15
1994 51.41
1995 51.90
1996 52.06
1997 52.26
1998 52.50
1999 52.74
2000 52.99
2001 53.25
2002 53.52
2003 53.80
2004 54.11
2005 54.47
2006 54.87
2007 55.15
2008 55.58
2009 56.01
2010 56.44
2011 56.79
2012 57.10
2013 57.40
2014 57.69
2015 58.03
2016 58.35
2017 58.64
2018 58.93
2019 59.20
2020 59.47

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