Colombia - Urban population (% of total population)

Urban population (% of total population) in Colombia was 81.43 as of 2020. Its highest value over the past 60 years was 81.43 in 2020, while its lowest value was 46.27 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:

Year Value
1960 46.27
1961 47.70
1962 49.14
1963 50.58
1964 52.03
1965 52.82
1966 53.59
1967 54.35
1968 55.12
1969 55.88
1970 56.64
1971 57.39
1972 58.14
1973 58.89
1974 59.61
1975 60.31
1976 61.00
1977 61.69
1978 62.38
1979 63.06
1980 63.74
1981 64.41
1982 65.07
1983 65.73
1984 66.39
1985 67.03
1986 67.57
1987 68.05
1988 68.53
1989 69.01
1990 69.48
1991 69.95
1992 70.42
1993 70.87
1994 71.33
1995 71.78
1996 72.22
1997 72.66
1998 73.10
1999 73.53
2000 73.96
2001 74.38
2002 74.80
2003 75.21
2004 75.62
2005 76.02
2006 76.42
2007 76.82
2008 77.20
2009 77.59
2010 77.96
2011 78.34
2012 78.70
2013 79.06
2014 79.42
2015 79.76
2016 80.11
2017 80.45
2018 80.78
2019 81.10
2020 81.43

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