Egypt - Urban population (% of total population)

Urban population (% of total population) in Egypt was 42.78 as of 2020. Its highest value over the past 60 years was 43.95 in 1986, while its lowest value was 37.86 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 37.86
1961 38.27
1962 38.62
1963 38.98
1964 39.33
1965 39.69
1966 40.04
1967 40.40
1968 40.76
1969 41.12
1970 41.48
1971 41.84
1972 42.20
1973 42.56
1974 42.93
1975 43.29
1976 43.66
1977 43.81
1978 43.83
1979 43.84
1980 43.86
1981 43.87
1982 43.89
1983 43.91
1984 43.92
1985 43.94
1986 43.95
1987 43.88
1988 43.74
1989 43.61
1990 43.48
1991 43.35
1992 43.21
1993 43.08
1994 42.95
1995 42.81
1996 42.68
1997 42.66
1998 42.70
1999 42.75
2000 42.80
2001 42.84
2002 42.89
2003 42.94
2004 42.98
2005 43.03
2006 43.07
2007 43.08
2008 43.06
2009 43.04
2010 43.02
2011 43.00
2012 42.95
2013 42.89
2014 42.84
2015 42.79
2016 42.73
2017 42.71
2018 42.70
2019 42.73
2020 42.78

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