Australia - Urban population

The value for Urban population in Australia was 22,158,130 as of 2020. As the graph below shows, over the past 60 years this indicator reached a maximum value of 22,158,130 in 2020 and a minimum value of 8,378,309 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 8,378,309
1961 8,589,875
1962 8,832,932
1963 9,034,955
1964 9,245,383
1965 9,459,784
1966 9,709,943
1967 9,852,991
1968 10,048,170
1969 10,280,810
1970 10,505,760
1971 10,887,780
1972 11,110,850
1973 11,303,160
1974 11,614,600
1975 11,780,150
1976 11,920,610
1977 12,077,390
1978 12,240,480
1979 12,395,390
1980 12,569,300
1981 12,792,440
1982 13,002,990
1983 13,162,170
1984 13,307,370
1985 13,486,010
1986 13,704,060
1987 13,909,210
1988 14,133,870
1989 14,370,090
1990 14,579,230
1991 14,761,060
1992 14,920,610
1993 15,044,690
1994 15,181,750
1995 15,342,770
1996 15,521,690
1997 15,672,050
1998 15,811,360
1999 15,967,870
2000 16,133,530
2001 16,326,330
2002 16,550,800
2003 16,780,380
2004 17,000,210
2005 17,250,330
2006 17,531,120
2007 17,666,390
2008 18,049,710
2009 18,451,610
2010 18,767,080
2011 19,056,040
2012 19,414,830
2013 19,775,010
2014 20,095,660
2015 20,410,550
2016 20,755,800
2017 21,133,980
2018 21,488,110
2019 21,845,990
2020 22,158,130

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