High income - Urban population (% of total population)

Urban population (% of total population) in High income was 81.76 as of 2020. Its highest value over the past 60 years was 81.76 in 2020, while its lowest value was 63.54 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 63.54
1961 64.03
1962 64.52
1963 65.03
1964 65.55
1965 66.05
1966 66.55
1967 67.07
1968 67.58
1969 68.05
1970 68.50
1971 68.90
1972 69.27
1973 69.62
1974 69.98
1975 70.32
1976 70.60
1977 70.88
1978 71.16
1979 71.44
1980 71.72
1981 72.03
1982 72.30
1983 72.54
1984 72.77
1985 73.00
1986 73.25
1987 73.54
1988 73.81
1989 74.05
1990 74.31
1991 74.58
1992 74.79
1993 75.04
1994 75.29
1995 75.58
1996 75.82
1997 76.04
1998 76.27
1999 76.49
2000 76.71
2001 77.05
2002 77.44
2003 77.81
2004 78.16
2005 78.51
2006 78.82
2007 79.12
2008 79.41
2009 79.69
2010 79.96
2011 80.17
2012 80.34
2013 80.51
2014 80.68
2015 80.85
2016 81.02
2017 81.20
2018 81.38
2019 81.57
2020 81.76

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