Barbados - Urban population (% of total population)

Urban population (% of total population) in Barbados was 31.19 as of 2020. Its highest value over the past 60 years was 40.10 in 1980, while its lowest value was 31.15 in 2018.

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 36.78
1961 36.85
1962 36.92
1963 37.00
1964 37.07
1965 37.14
1966 37.21
1967 37.29
1968 37.36
1969 37.43
1970 37.55
1971 37.81
1972 38.07
1973 38.33
1974 38.59
1975 38.86
1976 39.12
1977 39.38
1978 39.65
1979 39.91
1980 40.10
1981 39.83
1982 39.55
1983 39.28
1984 39.01
1985 38.74
1986 38.46
1987 38.19
1988 37.92
1989 37.65
1990 37.37
1991 37.01
1992 36.64
1993 36.28
1994 35.92
1995 35.57
1996 35.21
1997 34.86
1998 34.50
1999 34.15
2000 33.83
2001 33.63
2002 33.43
2003 33.23
2004 33.04
2005 32.84
2006 32.65
2007 32.45
2008 32.26
2009 32.06
2010 31.87
2011 31.70
2012 31.55
2013 31.43
2014 31.33
2015 31.25
2016 31.19
2017 31.16
2018 31.15
2019 31.16
2020 31.19

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