Bolivia - Urban population (% of total population)

Urban population (% of total population) in Bolivia was 70.12 as of 2020. Its highest value over the past 60 years was 70.12 in 2020, while its lowest value was 36.76 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 36.76
1961 37.06
1962 37.36
1963 37.66
1964 37.96
1965 38.26
1966 38.56
1967 38.86
1968 39.17
1969 39.47
1970 39.78
1971 40.08
1972 40.39
1973 40.70
1974 41.00
1975 41.31
1976 41.62
1977 42.45
1978 43.44
1979 44.44
1980 45.45
1981 46.46
1982 47.47
1983 48.49
1984 49.50
1985 50.52
1986 51.54
1987 52.55
1988 53.56
1989 54.57
1990 55.58
1991 56.58
1992 57.54
1993 58.08
1994 58.62
1995 59.15
1996 59.68
1997 60.21
1998 60.74
1999 61.26
2000 61.79
2001 62.31
2002 62.78
2003 63.25
2004 63.71
2005 64.17
2006 64.63
2007 65.08
2008 65.54
2009 65.98
2010 66.43
2011 66.87
2012 67.32
2013 67.70
2014 68.05
2015 68.39
2016 68.74
2017 69.08
2018 69.43
2019 69.77
2020 70.12

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