British Virgin Islands - Urban population (% of total population)

Urban population (% of total population) in British Virgin Islands was 48.52 as of 2020. Its highest value over the past 60 years was 48.52 in 2020, while its lowest value was 12.23 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 12.23
1961 12.62
1962 13.02
1963 13.43
1964 13.85
1965 14.29
1966 14.73
1967 15.19
1968 15.66
1969 16.14
1970 16.64
1971 17.17
1972 17.73
1973 18.29
1974 18.88
1975 19.47
1976 20.08
1977 20.70
1978 21.34
1979 21.99
1980 22.74
1981 24.04
1982 25.39
1983 26.79
1984 28.24
1985 29.73
1986 31.27
1987 32.85
1988 34.47
1989 36.12
1990 37.81
1991 39.33
1992 39.60
1993 39.87
1994 40.14
1995 40.41
1996 40.68
1997 40.96
1998 41.23
1999 41.50
2000 41.77
2001 42.05
2002 42.33
2003 42.62
2004 42.91
2005 43.21
2006 43.52
2007 43.83
2008 44.15
2009 44.48
2010 44.81
2011 45.15
2012 45.50
2013 45.86
2014 46.22
2015 46.58
2016 46.96
2017 47.34
2018 47.72
2019 48.12
2020 48.52

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