Ghana - Urban population (% of total population)

Urban population (% of total population) in Ghana was 57.35 as of 2020. Its highest value over the past 60 years was 57.35 in 2020, while its lowest value was 23.25 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 23.25
1961 23.80
1962 24.35
1963 24.92
1964 25.49
1965 26.07
1966 26.66
1967 27.25
1968 27.86
1969 28.47
1970 28.96
1971 29.17
1972 29.39
1973 29.61
1974 29.83
1975 30.05
1976 30.27
1977 30.49
1978 30.71
1979 30.94
1980 31.16
1981 31.39
1982 31.61
1983 31.84
1984 32.21
1985 32.90
1986 33.59
1987 34.29
1988 35.00
1989 35.72
1990 36.44
1991 37.17
1992 37.91
1993 38.64
1994 39.39
1995 40.14
1996 40.90
1997 41.65
1998 42.42
1999 43.18
2000 43.93
2001 44.60
2002 45.28
2003 45.95
2004 46.63
2005 47.31
2006 47.99
2007 48.67
2008 49.35
2009 50.03
2010 50.71
2011 51.39
2012 52.07
2013 52.75
2014 53.42
2015 54.09
2016 54.75
2017 55.41
2018 56.06
2019 56.71
2020 57.35

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