Congo - Urban population (% of total population)

Urban population (% of total population) in Congo was 67.83 as of 2020. Its highest value over the past 60 years was 67.83 in 2020, while its lowest value was 31.60 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 31.60
1961 32.32
1962 33.05
1963 33.78
1964 34.52
1965 35.27
1966 36.03
1967 36.80
1968 37.57
1969 38.35
1970 39.13
1971 39.92
1972 40.72
1973 41.51
1974 42.36
1975 43.26
1976 44.18
1977 45.09
1978 46.01
1979 46.93
1980 47.86
1981 48.78
1982 49.71
1983 50.63
1984 51.56
1985 52.22
1986 52.64
1987 53.06
1988 53.49
1989 53.91
1990 54.32
1991 54.74
1992 55.16
1993 55.58
1994 56.00
1995 56.41
1996 56.83
1997 57.30
1998 57.77
1999 58.23
2000 58.70
2001 59.16
2002 59.62
2003 60.08
2004 60.53
2005 60.99
2006 61.44
2007 61.89
2008 62.35
2009 62.80
2010 63.26
2011 63.71
2012 64.17
2013 64.63
2014 65.09
2015 65.54
2016 66.00
2017 66.46
2018 66.92
2019 67.37
2020 67.83

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