Dem. Rep. Congo - Urban population (% of total population)

Urban population (% of total population) in Dem. Rep. Congo was 45.64 as of 2020. Its highest value over the past 60 years was 45.64 in 2020, while its lowest value was 22.30 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 22.30
1961 22.52
1962 22.75
1963 22.98
1964 23.20
1965 23.43
1966 23.67
1967 23.90
1968 24.13
1969 24.37
1970 24.61
1971 24.85
1972 25.09
1973 25.33
1974 25.58
1975 25.82
1976 26.07
1977 26.32
1978 26.57
1979 26.82
1980 27.07
1981 27.33
1982 27.58
1983 27.84
1984 28.10
1985 28.51
1986 28.93
1987 29.35
1988 29.78
1989 30.20
1990 30.63
1991 31.07
1992 31.51
1993 31.95
1994 32.39
1995 32.84
1996 33.29
1997 33.74
1998 34.20
1999 34.66
2000 35.12
2001 35.59
2002 36.06
2003 36.53
2004 37.00
2005 37.48
2006 37.97
2007 38.47
2008 38.98
2009 39.49
2010 40.01
2011 40.54
2012 41.08
2013 41.63
2014 42.18
2015 42.74
2016 43.31
2017 43.88
2018 44.46
2019 45.05
2020 45.64

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