Dem. People's Rep. Korea - Urban population (% of total population)

Urban population (% of total population) in Dem. People's Rep. Korea was 62.38 as of 2020. Its highest value over the past 60 years was 62.38 in 2020, while its lowest value was 40.20 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 40.20
1961 41.16
1962 42.14
1963 43.12
1964 44.10
1965 45.09
1966 46.08
1967 47.08
1968 49.01
1969 51.61
1970 54.20
1971 54.70
1972 55.20
1973 55.70
1974 56.20
1975 56.70
1976 56.74
1977 56.78
1978 56.82
1979 56.86
1980 56.90
1981 57.05
1982 57.20
1983 57.35
1984 57.50
1985 57.64
1986 57.79
1987 57.94
1988 58.09
1989 58.24
1990 58.38
1991 58.53
1992 58.68
1993 58.83
1994 58.94
1995 59.02
1996 59.10
1997 59.18
1998 59.26
1999 59.33
2000 59.41
2001 59.49
2002 59.57
2003 59.65
2004 59.73
2005 59.81
2006 59.88
2007 59.96
2008 60.04
2009 60.20
2010 60.38
2011 60.56
2012 60.74
2013 60.92
2014 61.10
2015 61.28
2016 61.47
2017 61.68
2018 61.90
2019 62.13
2020 62.38

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