Greenland - Urban population

The value for Urban population in Greenland was 49,198 as of 2020. As the graph below shows, over the past 60 years this indicator reached a maximum value of 49,198 in 2020 and a minimum value of 19,024 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 19,024
1961 20,155
1962 21,492
1963 22,926
1964 24,265
1965 25,892
1966 27,334
1967 28,849
1968 30,461
1969 32,095
1970 33,753
1971 34,660
1972 35,585
1973 36,218
1974 36,705
1975 36,897
1976 37,089
1977 37,033
1978 37,075
1979 37,567
1980 38,213
1981 39,013
1982 39,588
1983 40,240
1984 40,896
1985 41,475
1986 41,900
1987 42,559
1988 43,301
1989 43,886
1990 44,312
1991 44,418
1992 44,406
1993 44,438
1994 44,790
1995 45,143
1996 45,335
1997 45,487
1998 45,638
1999 45,708
2000 45,859
2001 46,122
2002 46,473
2003 46,739
2004 46,997
2005 47,175
2006 47,220
2007 47,213
2008 47,196
2009 47,360
2010 48,018
2011 48,217
2012 48,402
2013 48,322
2014 48,308
2015 48,298
2016 48,503
2017 48,629
2018 48,637
2019 48,945
2020 49,198

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