Guinea-Bissau - Urban population

The value for Urban population in Guinea-Bissau was 869,776 as of 2020. As the graph below shows, over the past 60 years this indicator reached a maximum value of 869,776 in 2020 and a minimum value of 83,795 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 83,795
1961 85,610
1962 87,382
1963 89,187
1964 91,119
1965 93,239
1966 95,574
1967 98,098
1968 100,806
1969 103,667
1970 106,671
1971 109,859
1972 113,210
1973 116,538
1974 119,583
1975 122,175
1976 124,175
1977 125,692
1978 127,071
1979 129,922
1980 139,170
1981 149,894
1982 162,186
1983 175,955
1984 190,907
1985 206,738
1986 223,436
1987 241,086
1988 259,769
1989 279,573
1990 300,674
1991 323,097
1992 339,482
1993 350,955
1994 362,579
1995 374,249
1996 385,926
1997 397,668
1998 409,664
1999 422,179
2000 435,389
2001 449,390
2002 464,198
2003 479,786
2004 496,132
2005 513,185
2006 530,989
2007 549,571
2008 569,008
2009 589,354
2010 610,731
2011 633,138
2012 656,566
2013 680,896
2014 705,998
2015 731,764
2016 758,123
2017 785,097
2018 812,698
2019 840,920
2020 869,776

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