Heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC) - Urban population (% of total population)

Urban population (% of total population) in Heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC) was 36.96 as of 2020. Its highest value over the past 60 years was 36.96 in 2020, while its lowest value was 12.36 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 12.36
1961 12.71
1962 13.07
1963 13.44
1964 13.84
1965 14.24
1966 14.65
1967 15.06
1968 15.49
1969 15.93
1970 16.36
1971 16.79
1972 17.23
1973 17.67
1974 18.11
1975 18.57
1976 19.05
1977 19.53
1978 20.01
1979 20.42
1980 20.83
1981 21.23
1982 21.64
1983 22.08
1984 22.55
1985 23.05
1986 23.55
1987 24.04
1988 24.52
1989 24.96
1990 25.41
1991 25.84
1992 26.25
1993 26.63
1994 26.94
1995 27.24
1996 27.54
1997 27.84
1998 28.14
1999 28.43
2000 28.73
2001 29.05
2002 29.39
2003 29.75
2004 30.10
2005 30.46
2006 30.84
2007 31.16
2008 31.59
2009 32.03
2010 32.47
2011 32.92
2012 33.34
2013 33.77
2014 34.20
2015 34.64
2016 35.09
2017 35.54
2018 36.01
2019 36.48
2020 36.96

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