Greenland - Urban population (% of total population)

Urban population (% of total population) in Greenland was 87.28 as of 2020. Its highest value over the past 60 years was 87.28 in 2020, while its lowest value was 58.53 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 58.53
1961 59.81
1962 61.41
1963 62.98
1964 64.53
1965 66.05
1966 67.49
1967 68.85
1968 70.19
1969 71.48
1970 72.74
1971 73.43
1972 73.68
1973 73.91
1974 74.15
1975 74.39
1976 74.63
1977 74.97
1978 75.36
1979 75.74
1980 76.12
1981 76.50
1982 76.87
1983 77.24
1984 77.60
1985 77.96
1986 78.32
1987 78.67
1988 79.02
1989 79.36
1990 79.70
1991 80.03
1992 80.30
1993 80.50
1994 80.70
1995 80.90
1996 81.10
1997 81.23
1998 81.35
1999 81.48
2000 81.60
2001 81.85
2002 82.10
2003 82.34
2004 82.58
2005 82.86
2006 83.17
2007 83.48
2008 83.79
2009 84.09
2010 84.38
2011 84.76
2012 85.20
2013 85.55
2014 85.81
2015 86.07
2016 86.33
2017 86.57
2018 86.82
2019 87.05
2020 87.28

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