Guatemala - Urban population (% of total population)

Urban population (% of total population) in Guatemala was 51.84 as of 2020. Its highest value over the past 60 years was 51.84 in 2020, while its lowest value was 31.12 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 31.12
1961 31.77
1962 32.42
1963 33.09
1964 33.68
1965 33.99
1966 34.30
1967 34.61
1968 34.92
1969 35.23
1970 35.55
1971 35.86
1972 36.18
1973 36.49
1974 36.81
1975 37.13
1976 37.44
1977 37.76
1978 38.08
1979 38.40
1980 38.72
1981 39.05
1982 39.37
1983 39.70
1984 40.02
1985 40.35
1986 40.67
1987 41.00
1988 41.33
1989 41.66
1990 41.99
1991 42.32
1992 42.66
1993 42.99
1994 43.32
1995 43.65
1996 43.99
1997 44.32
1998 44.66
1999 45.00
2000 45.33
2001 45.67
2002 46.01
2003 46.32
2004 46.62
2005 46.91
2006 47.21
2007 47.51
2008 47.81
2009 48.10
2010 48.40
2011 48.70
2012 49.00
2013 49.31
2014 49.63
2015 49.97
2016 50.32
2017 50.68
2018 51.05
2019 51.44
2020 51.84

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