Belize - Urban population

The value for Urban population in Belize was 183,005 as of 2020. As the graph below shows, over the past 60 years this indicator reached a maximum value of 183,005 in 2020 and a minimum value of 49,742 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 49,742
1961 50,873
1962 52,017
1963 53,189
1964 54,410
1965 55,693
1966 57,047
1967 58,450
1968 59,830
1969 61,111
1970 62,269
1971 63,402
1972 64,397
1973 65,278
1974 66,084
1975 66,860
1976 67,588
1977 68,295
1978 69,064
1979 69,997
1980 71,169
1981 72,580
1982 74,216
1983 76,042
1984 77,942
1985 79,852
1986 81,780
1987 83,744
1988 85,655
1989 87,433
1990 89,023
1991 90,352
1992 91,447
1993 92,583
1994 94,057
1995 96,082
1996 98,741
1997 101,931
1998 105,437
1999 108,931
2000 112,274
2001 115,752
2002 119,029
2003 122,178
2004 125,345
2005 128,597
2006 131,964
2007 135,398
2008 138,874
2009 142,366
2010 145,844
2011 149,359
2012 152,932
2013 156,543
2014 160,198
2015 163,882
2016 167,603
2017 171,357
2018 175,155
2019 179,038
2020 183,005

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