Caribbean small states - Urban population

The value for Urban population in Caribbean small states was 3,836,980 as of 2020. As the graph below shows, over the past 60 years this indicator reached a maximum value of 3,836,980 in 2020 and a minimum value of 1,467,447 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 1,467,447
1961 1,517,653
1962 1,569,034
1963 1,621,149
1964 1,673,172
1965 1,724,071
1966 1,774,340
1967 1,823,972
1968 1,873,184
1969 1,922,267
1970 1,971,052
1971 2,017,936
1972 2,070,069
1973 2,127,385
1974 2,185,113
1975 2,243,316
1976 2,301,816
1977 2,360,634
1978 2,420,497
1979 2,482,133
1980 2,544,548
1981 2,592,955
1982 2,643,737
1983 2,687,948
1984 2,730,524
1985 2,770,013
1986 2,805,571
1987 2,837,844
1988 2,868,345
1989 2,899,387
1990 2,932,354
1991 2,966,979
1992 3,002,564
1993 3,039,392
1994 3,075,982
1995 3,111,322
1996 3,145,118
1997 3,177,749
1998 3,209,662
1999 3,241,363
2000 3,272,897
2001 3,300,933
2002 3,326,491
2003 3,351,010
2004 3,375,383
2005 3,398,931
2006 3,422,331
2007 3,445,563
2008 3,468,896
2009 3,492,528
2010 3,516,860
2011 3,543,229
2012 3,572,957
2013 3,603,784
2014 3,635,507
2015 3,667,763
2016 3,700,577
2017 3,733,889
2018 3,767,722
2019 3,802,091
2020 3,836,980

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