Chile - Urban population

The value for Urban population in Chile was 16,770,080 as of 2020. As the graph below shows, over the past 60 years this indicator reached a maximum value of 16,770,080 in 2020 and a minimum value of 5,517,094 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 5,517,094
1961 5,701,392
1962 5,885,932
1963 6,072,574
1964 6,259,547
1965 6,445,189
1966 6,629,133
1967 6,811,422
1968 6,993,125
1969 7,175,375
1970 7,359,558
1971 7,544,831
1972 7,732,140
1973 7,921,009
1974 8,111,314
1975 8,302,888
1976 8,495,996
1977 8,690,708
1978 8,886,413
1979 9,082,123
1980 9,277,423
1981 9,471,544
1982 9,656,547
1983 9,807,273
1984 9,963,497
1985 10,127,420
1986 10,299,550
1987 10,479,080
1988 10,665,400
1989 10,857,440
1990 11,053,910
1991 11,254,770
1992 11,464,830
1993 11,699,240
1994 11,931,320
1995 12,158,300
1996 12,378,990
1997 12,593,730
1998 12,802,520
1999 13,006,350
2000 13,205,620
2001 13,400,180
2002 13,583,640
2003 13,736,100
2004 13,888,980
2005 14,043,840
2006 14,202,580
2007 14,364,750
2008 14,529,330
2009 14,693,850
2010 14,857,030
2011 15,015,970
2012 15,171,200
2013 15,330,440
2014 15,504,110
2015 15,698,030
2016 15,918,740
2017 16,159,780
2018 16,400,010
2019 16,610,130
2020 16,770,080

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