Belarus - Urban population (% of total population)

Urban population (% of total population) in Belarus was 79.48 as of 2020. Its highest value over the past 60 years was 79.48 in 2020, while its lowest value was 32.40 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 32.40
1961 33.52
1962 34.66
1963 35.82
1964 37.00
1965 38.13
1966 39.27
1967 40.42
1968 41.59
1969 42.76
1970 44.01
1971 45.35
1972 46.70
1973 48.05
1974 49.40
1975 50.61
1976 51.83
1977 53.04
1978 54.25
1979 55.40
1980 56.50
1981 57.58
1982 58.66
1983 59.74
1984 60.80
1985 61.83
1986 62.86
1987 63.87
1988 64.87
1989 65.59
1990 65.98
1991 66.37
1992 66.77
1993 67.16
1994 67.54
1995 67.93
1996 68.31
1997 68.69
1998 69.06
1999 69.48
2000 69.97
2001 70.46
2002 70.94
2003 71.42
2004 71.89
2005 72.35
2006 72.82
2007 73.27
2008 73.73
2009 74.17
2010 74.67
2011 75.19
2012 75.70
2013 76.20
2014 76.69
2015 77.18
2016 77.66
2017 78.13
2018 78.60
2019 79.04
2020 79.48

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