Eritrea - Urban population

The value for Urban population in Eritrea was 1,149,669 as of 2011. As the graph below shows, over the past 51 years this indicator reached a maximum value of 1,149,669 in 2011 and a minimum value of 98,733 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 98,733
1961 104,510
1962 110,694
1963 117,292
1964 124,283
1965 131,651
1966 139,437
1967 147,657
1968 153,565
1969 159,732
1970 166,202
1971 172,991
1972 180,106
1973 187,550
1974 195,310
1975 203,400
1976 211,825
1977 220,551
1978 229,688
1979 239,304
1980 249,440
1981 260,046
1982 271,024
1983 282,449
1984 295,487
1985 315,761
1986 337,616
1987 360,853
1988 384,492
1989 406,938
1990 426,998
1991 443,979
1992 458,156
1993 470,448
1994 482,621
1995 496,260
1996 511,623
1997 528,778
1998 549,470
1999 575,798
2000 609,484
2001 651,980
2002 703,157
2003 760,628
2004 820,403
2005 879,061
2006 935,315
2007 989,368
2008 1,041,346
2009 1,079,024
2010 1,115,201
2011 1,149,669

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