Congo - Urban population

The value for Urban population in Congo was 3,742,867 as of 2020. As the graph below shows, over the past 60 years this indicator reached a maximum value of 3,742,867 in 2020 and a minimum value of 321,778 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 321,778
1961 337,115
1962 353,329
1963 370,444
1964 388,517
1965 407,540
1966 427,609
1967 448,745
1968 471,025
1969 494,466
1970 519,200
1971 545,250
1972 572,661
1973 601,385
1974 631,990
1975 664,820
1976 699,040
1977 734,631
1978 771,738
1979 810,452
1980 850,865
1981 892,999
1982 936,914
1983 982,510
1984 1,029,650
1985 1,072,780
1986 1,111,988
1987 1,152,189
1988 1,193,497
1989 1,236,128
1990 1,280,275
1991 1,326,046
1992 1,373,503
1993 1,422,781
1994 1,474,008
1995 1,527,400
1996 1,583,234
1997 1,642,924
1998 1,705,051
1999 1,769,309
2000 1,835,639
2001 1,903,599
2002 1,973,547
2003 2,046,738
2004 2,124,992
2005 2,209,458
2006 2,301,053
2007 2,399,049
2008 2,501,002
2009 2,603,311
2010 2,703,396
2011 2,800,042
2012 2,894,148
2013 2,987,549
2014 3,083,054
2015 3,182,829
2016 3,287,507
2017 3,396,521
2018 3,509,318
2019 3,625,007
2020 3,742,867

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