Guam - Urban population

The value for Urban population in Guam was 160,239 as of 2020. As the graph below shows, over the past 60 years this indicator reached a maximum value of 160,239 in 2020 and a minimum value of 33,465 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 33,465
1961 34,870
1962 36,413
1963 38,065
1964 39,792
1965 41,565
1966 43,375
1967 45,228
1968 47,115
1969 49,047
1970 51,935
1971 57,570
1972 63,057
1973 68,321
1974 73,333
1975 78,071
1976 82,536
1977 86,738
1978 90,698
1979 94,441
1980 97,629
1981 99,551
1982 101,516
1983 103,535
1984 105,569
1985 107,645
1986 109,717
1987 111,797
1988 113,895
1989 116,050
1990 118,471
1991 121,615
1992 124,828
1993 128,028
1994 131,119
1995 133,994
1996 136,641
1997 139,050
1998 141,208
1999 143,095
2000 144,651
2001 145,812
2002 146,696
2003 147,368
2004 147,872
2005 148,317
2006 148,697
2007 149,034
2008 149,361
2009 149,691
2010 150,031
2011 150,409
2012 150,834
2013 151,374
2014 152,070
2015 153,004
2016 154,177
2017 155,572
2018 157,117
2019 158,694
2020 160,239

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