Bhutan - Urban population

The value for Urban population in Bhutan was 326,515 as of 2020. As the graph below shows, over the past 60 years this indicator reached a maximum value of 326,515 in 2020 and a minimum value of 8,029 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 8,029
1961 8,678
1962 9,380
1963 10,143
1964 10,980
1965 11,905
1966 12,926
1967 14,056
1968 15,294
1969 16,643
1970 18,103
1971 19,685
1972 21,398
1973 23,249
1974 25,258
1975 27,440
1976 29,814
1977 32,377
1978 35,143
1979 38,093
1980 41,225
1981 44,512
1982 47,972
1983 51,657
1984 55,675
1985 60,080
1986 64,991
1987 70,390
1988 76,068
1989 81,694
1990 86,988
1991 91,749
1992 96,011
1993 100,079
1994 104,514
1995 109,797
1996 116,178
1997 123,589
1998 131,935
1999 140,906
2000 150,224
2001 159,845
2002 169,838
2003 180,115
2004 190,589
2005 200,884
2006 208,476
2007 215,878
2008 223,217
2009 230,700
2010 238,507
2011 246,710
2012 255,172
2013 263,845
2014 272,651
2015 281,531
2016 290,468
2017 299,470
2018 308,510
2019 317,539
2020 326,515

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