Cameroon - Urban population (% of total population)

Urban population (% of total population) in Cameroon was 57.56 as of 2020. Its highest value over the past 60 years was 57.56 in 2020, while its lowest value was 13.94 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:

1960
1965
1970
1975
1980
1985
1990
1995
2000
2005
2010
2015
2020
0.00
10.00
20.00
30.00
40.00
50.00
60.00
70.00
Year Value
1960 13.94
1961 14.49
1962 15.06
1963 15.65
1964 16.26
1965 16.88
1966 17.53
1967 18.19
1968 18.88
1969 19.58
1970 20.30
1971 21.58
1972 22.93
1973 24.32
1974 25.78
1975 27.29
1976 28.68
1977 29.47
1978 30.27
1979 31.09
1980 31.92
1981 32.76
1982 33.61
1983 34.48
1984 35.35
1985 36.23
1986 37.12
1987 37.94
1988 38.51
1989 39.08
1990 39.66
1991 40.24
1992 40.82
1993 41.40
1994 41.99
1995 42.57
1996 43.16
1997 43.76
1998 44.35
1999 44.94
2000 45.54
2001 46.14
2002 46.74
2003 47.34
2004 47.94
2005 48.54
2006 49.14
2007 49.75
2008 50.35
2009 50.95
2010 51.56
2011 52.16
2012 52.77
2013 53.37
2014 53.98
2015 54.58
2016 55.18
2017 55.78
2018 56.37
2019 56.97
2020 57.56

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