Australia - Urban population (% of total population)

Urban population (% of total population) in Australia was 86.24 as of 2020. Its highest value over the past 60 years was 86.24 in 2020, while its lowest value was 81.53 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 81.53
1961 81.94
1962 82.23
1963 82.51
1964 82.79
1965 83.07
1966 83.34
1967 83.51
1968 83.67
1969 83.84
1970 84.00
1971 84.16
1972 84.32
1973 84.48
1974 84.64
1975 84.79
1976 84.95
1977 85.10
1978 85.25
1979 85.40
1980 85.55
1981 85.70
1982 85.67
1983 85.64
1984 85.61
1985 85.58
1986 85.55
1987 85.52
1988 85.49
1989 85.46
1990 85.43
1991 85.40
1992 85.29
1993 85.16
1994 85.03
1995 84.90
1996 84.77
1997 84.64
1998 84.50
1999 84.37
2000 84.24
2001 84.10
2002 84.22
2003 84.34
2004 84.46
2005 84.58
2006 84.70
2007 84.82
2008 84.94
2009 85.06
2010 85.18
2011 85.30
2012 85.40
2013 85.50
2014 85.60
2015 85.70
2016 85.80
2017 85.90
2018 86.01
2019 86.12
2020 86.24

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