Bhutan - Urban population (% of total population)

Urban population (% of total population) in Bhutan was 42.32 as of 2020. Its highest value over the past 60 years was 42.32 in 2020, while its lowest value was 3.60 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 3.60
1961 3.79
1962 4.00
1963 4.22
1964 4.45
1965 4.69
1966 4.94
1967 5.21
1968 5.49
1969 5.78
1970 6.09
1971 6.41
1972 6.75
1973 7.11
1974 7.48
1975 7.88
1976 8.29
1977 8.72
1978 9.17
1979 9.64
1980 10.13
1981 10.65
1982 11.18
1983 11.75
1984 12.33
1985 12.94
1986 13.58
1987 14.24
1988 14.93
1989 15.65
1990 16.39
1991 17.16
1992 17.96
1993 18.79
1994 19.65
1995 20.54
1996 21.46
1997 22.40
1998 23.38
1999 24.38
2000 25.42
2001 26.48
2002 27.57
2003 28.69
2004 29.84
2005 30.97
2006 31.71
2007 32.47
2008 33.24
2009 34.01
2010 34.79
2011 35.59
2012 36.37
2013 37.15
2014 37.92
2015 38.68
2016 39.43
2017 40.17
2018 40.90
2019 41.61
2020 42.32

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