Heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC) - Urban population

The value for Urban population in Heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC) was 304,383,100 as of 2020. As the graph below shows, over the past 60 years this indicator reached a maximum value of 304,383,100 in 2020 and a minimum value of 19,995,240 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 19,995,240
1961 21,042,600
1962 22,156,160
1963 23,347,570
1964 24,634,740
1965 26,004,020
1966 27,422,310
1967 28,929,220
1968 30,529,260
1969 32,231,110
1970 33,975,530
1971 35,813,360
1972 37,736,070
1973 39,750,750
1974 41,839,380
1975 44,049,040
1976 46,396,470
1977 48,846,180
1978 51,412,170
1979 53,856,620
1980 56,373,300
1981 58,967,140
1982 61,653,790
1983 64,526,710
1984 67,631,550
1985 71,001,140
1986 74,504,360
1987 78,140,630
1988 81,941,720
1989 85,824,160
1990 89,970,110
1991 94,244,420
1992 98,703,560
1993 103,240,000
1994 107,635,400
1995 112,050,800
1996 116,486,900
1997 121,042,400
1998 125,661,700
1999 130,458,800
2000 135,492,800
2001 140,946,400
2002 146,706,500
2003 152,774,500
2004 159,039,300
2005 165,590,400
2006 172,378,800
2007 179,015,700
2008 186,577,800
2009 194,454,100
2010 202,688,400
2011 211,290,500
2012 220,121,400
2013 229,294,900
2014 238,840,200
2015 248,770,200
2016 259,093,100
2017 269,819,300
2018 280,950,000
2019 292,473,300
2020 304,383,100

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