Botswana - Urban population (% of total population)

Urban population (% of total population) in Botswana was 70.88 as of 2020. Its highest value over the past 60 years was 70.88 in 2020, while its lowest value was 3.06 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 3.06
1961 3.10
1962 3.13
1963 3.17
1964 3.32
1965 3.84
1966 4.44
1967 5.12
1968 5.91
1969 6.81
1970 7.83
1971 9.00
1972 9.70
1973 10.38
1974 11.11
1975 11.88
1976 12.71
1977 13.57
1978 14.49
1979 15.46
1980 16.48
1981 17.55
1982 19.49
1983 21.72
1984 24.14
1985 26.72
1986 29.48
1987 32.40
1988 35.47
1989 38.65
1990 41.93
1991 45.29
1992 46.44
1993 47.29
1994 48.13
1995 48.98
1996 49.83
1997 50.68
1998 51.53
1999 52.37
2000 53.22
2001 54.06
2002 54.57
2003 55.03
2004 55.49
2005 55.94
2006 56.40
2007 57.93
2008 59.44
2009 60.94
2010 62.41
2011 63.87
2012 64.77
2013 65.57
2014 66.37
2015 67.16
2016 67.93
2017 68.70
2018 69.45
2019 70.17
2020 70.88

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