Central African Republic - Urban population

The value for Urban population in Central African Republic was 2,038,064 as of 2020. As the graph below shows, over the past 60 years this indicator reached a maximum value of 2,038,064 in 2020 and a minimum value of 301,835 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 301,835
1961 316,672
1962 332,388
1963 349,042
1964 366,813
1965 385,642
1966 405,741
1967 427,077
1968 450,265
1969 473,980
1970 497,923
1971 521,897
1972 546,103
1973 570,975
1974 597,426
1975 626,110
1976 650,528
1977 671,071
1978 693,542
1979 718,145
1980 745,011
1981 774,484
1982 806,439
1983 839,637
1984 872,341
1985 903,284
1986 931,766
1987 958,313
1988 984,513
1989 1,008,893
1990 1,033,582
1991 1,062,342
1992 1,094,533
1993 1,129,146
1994 1,164,627
1995 1,199,829
1996 1,234,369
1997 1,268,566
1998 1,302,438
1999 1,336,285
2000 1,370,218
2001 1,403,944
2002 1,437,281
2003 1,470,348
2004 1,503,409
2005 1,537,371
2006 1,572,816
2007 1,609,473
2008 1,645,503
2009 1,678,400
2010 1,706,627
2011 1,729,234
2012 1,747,414
2013 1,764,188
2014 1,783,838
2015 1,809,714
2016 1,843,116
2017 1,883,450
2018 1,930,199
2019 1,982,061
2020 2,038,064

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