Colombia - Urban population

The value for Urban population in Colombia was 41,431,390 as of 2020. As the graph below shows, over the past 60 years this indicator reached a maximum value of 41,431,390 in 2020 and a minimum value of 7,429,583 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 7,429,583
1961 7,903,180
1962 8,399,973
1963 8,917,948
1964 9,456,005
1965 9,890,673
1966 10,331,430
1967 10,782,080
1968 11,240,400
1969 11,702,010
1970 12,165,230
1971 12,628,090
1972 13,091,730
1973 13,559,140
1974 14,030,530
1975 14,512,940
1976 15,011,680
1977 15,524,760
1978 16,052,410
1979 16,593,240
1980 17,145,850
1981 17,710,020
1982 18,286,700
1983 18,874,690
1984 19,472,120
1985 20,077,480
1986 20,656,600
1987 21,228,790
1988 21,808,610
1989 22,398,270
1990 23,000,000
1991 23,613,610
1992 24,238,650
1993 24,870,590
1994 25,506,160
1995 26,142,220
1996 26,777,680
1997 27,410,870
1998 28,043,540
1999 28,676,310
2000 29,309,130
2001 29,941,980
2002 30,573,540
2003 31,200,440
2004 31,817,840
2005 32,422,510
2006 33,015,420
2007 33,597,410
2008 34,166,610
2009 34,720,220
2010 35,257,420
2011 35,769,910
2012 36,262,050
2013 36,759,800
2014 37,299,400
2015 37,904,380
2016 38,592,070
2017 39,346,010
2018 40,115,210
2019 40,827,300
2020 41,431,390

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