Burkina Faso - Urban population

The value for Urban population in Burkina Faso was 6,397,866 as of 2020. As the graph below shows, over the past 60 years this indicator reached a maximum value of 6,397,866 in 2020 and a minimum value of 226,977 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 226,977
1961 234,744
1962 242,709
1963 251,039
1964 259,788
1965 268,990
1966 278,745
1967 289,111
1968 299,959
1969 311,347
1970 323,189
1971 335,447
1972 348,345
1973 361,760
1974 375,812
1975 390,630
1976 418,352
1977 457,588
1978 500,783
1979 548,277
1980 600,751
1981 658,561
1982 722,340
1983 792,525
1984 869,406
1985 953,160
1986 1,017,666
1987 1,064,071
1988 1,112,727
1989 1,163,681
1990 1,217,244
1991 1,273,347
1992 1,332,276
1993 1,393,992
1994 1,458,744
1995 1,526,700
1996 1,598,127
1997 1,693,156
1998 1,810,936
1999 1,936,788
2000 2,071,323
2001 2,214,527
2002 2,367,405
2003 2,530,419
2004 2,704,757
2005 2,890,682
2006 3,089,299
2007 3,277,397
2008 3,457,080
2009 3,645,825
2010 3,844,032
2011 4,051,999
2012 4,269,915
2013 4,497,998
2014 4,736,621
2015 4,985,853
2016 5,245,964
2017 5,516,712
2018 5,798,635
2019 6,092,351
2020 6,397,866

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