Guyana - Urban population (% of total population)

Urban population (% of total population) in Guyana was 26.79 as of 2020. Its highest value over the past 60 years was 30.49 in 1980, while its lowest value was 26.40 in 2011.

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 29.01
1961 29.05
1962 29.09
1963 29.13
1964 29.17
1965 29.21
1966 29.25
1967 29.29
1968 29.33
1969 29.37
1970 29.43
1971 29.53
1972 29.64
1973 29.75
1974 29.86
1975 29.97
1976 30.08
1977 30.19
1978 30.30
1979 30.41
1980 30.49
1981 30.40
1982 30.31
1983 30.22
1984 30.12
1985 30.03
1986 29.94
1987 29.85
1988 29.76
1989 29.67
1990 29.58
1991 29.49
1992 29.40
1993 29.32
1994 29.23
1995 29.14
1996 29.05
1997 28.96
1998 28.87
1999 28.78
2000 28.69
2001 28.61
2002 28.52
2003 28.31
2004 28.06
2005 27.82
2006 27.58
2007 27.34
2008 27.11
2009 26.87
2010 26.63
2011 26.40
2012 26.40
2013 26.40
2014 26.41
2015 26.44
2016 26.48
2017 26.54
2018 26.61
2019 26.69
2020 26.79

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