Guinea-Bissau - Urban population (% of total population)

Urban population (% of total population) in Guinea-Bissau was 44.20 as of 2020. Its highest value over the past 60 years was 44.20 in 2020, while its lowest value was 13.60 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 13.60
1961 13.75
1962 13.90
1963 14.05
1964 14.20
1965 14.35
1966 14.50
1967 14.66
1968 14.82
1969 14.97
1970 15.13
1971 15.29
1972 15.46
1973 15.62
1974 15.78
1975 15.95
1976 16.12
1977 16.29
1978 16.46
1979 16.77
1980 17.80
1981 18.88
1982 20.01
1983 21.19
1984 22.43
1985 23.70
1986 25.03
1987 26.41
1988 27.84
1989 29.31
1990 30.83
1991 32.39
1992 33.27
1993 33.64
1994 34.00
1995 34.37
1996 34.74
1997 35.11
1998 35.49
1999 35.87
2000 36.24
2001 36.62
2002 37.00
2003 37.39
2004 37.77
2005 38.16
2006 38.55
2007 38.93
2008 39.33
2009 39.72
2010 40.11
2011 40.51
2012 40.91
2013 41.31
2014 41.72
2015 42.12
2016 42.53
2017 42.95
2018 43.36
2019 43.78
2020 44.20

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