Guyana - Urban population

The value for Urban population in Guyana was 210,688 as of 2020. As the graph below shows, over the past 60 years this indicator reached a maximum value of 237,853 in 1980 and a minimum value of 165,877 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 165,877
1961 171,178
1962 176,363
1963 181,351
1964 186,050
1965 190,403
1966 194,365
1967 197,953
1968 201,239
1969 204,333
1970 207,426
1971 210,772
1972 213,993
1973 217,148
1974 220,306
1975 223,508
1976 226,803
1977 230,145
1978 233,310
1979 236,021
1980 237,853
1981 237,616
1982 236,758
1983 235,361
1984 233,526
1985 231,386
1986 228,898
1987 226,122
1988 223,413
1989 221,236
1990 219,892
1991 219,569
1992 220,117
1993 221,076
1994 221,795
1995 221,819
1996 220,997
1997 219,502
1998 217,623
1999 215,772
2000 214,263
2001 213,174
2002 212,399
2003 210,927
2004 209,284
2005 207,596
2006 205,854
2007 204,109
2008 202,424
2009 200,904
2010 199,603
2011 198,536
2012 199,422
2013 200,450
2014 201,637
2015 202,917
2016 204,272
2017 205,727
2018 207,263
2019 208,915
2020 210,688

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