Cambodia - Urban population

The value for Urban population in Cambodia was 4,051,341 as of 2020. As the graph below shows, over the past 60 years this indicator reached a maximum value of 4,051,341 in 2020 and a minimum value of 336,870 in 1975.

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 588,546
1961 604,505
1962 622,918
1963 649,091
1964 675,058
1965 700,397
1966 724,354
1967 808,868
1968 901,100
1969 1,003,126
1970 1,117,353
1971 1,336,326
1972 1,593,175
1973 1,881,900
1974 2,188,810
1975 336,870
1976 356,906
1977 373,187
1978 388,076
1979 406,156
1980 662,548
1981 860,066
1982 901,720
1983 955,403
1984 1,014,843
1985 1,074,762
1986 1,133,799
1987 1,193,559
1988 1,255,516
1989 1,322,038
1990 1,395,346
1991 1,475,791
1992 1,562,344
1993 1,653,844
1994 1,748,472
1995 1,844,685
1996 1,942,110
1997 2,040,526
1998 2,129,274
1999 2,195,430
2000 2,259,173
2001 2,320,184
2002 2,378,419
2003 2,434,573
2004 2,489,817
2005 2,545,033
2006 2,600,254
2007 2,655,689
2008 2,717,205
2009 2,808,855
2010 2,904,519
2011 3,004,694
2012 3,109,364
2013 3,217,889
2014 3,329,690
2015 3,443,896
2016 3,560,344
2017 3,678,963
2018 3,800,502
2019 3,924,621
2020 4,051,341

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