Hong Kong SAR, China - Urban population (% of total population)

Urban population (% of total population) in Hong Kong SAR, China was 100.00 as of 2020. Its highest value over the past 60 years was 100.00 in 2020, while its lowest value was 85.20 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 85.20
1961 85.29
1962 85.58
1963 85.87
1964 86.15
1965 86.42
1966 86.69
1967 86.96
1968 87.22
1969 87.48
1970 87.73
1971 88.04
1972 88.47
1973 88.89
1974 89.30
1975 89.70
1976 90.08
1977 90.45
1978 90.80
1979 91.15
1980 91.48
1981 91.79
1982 92.09
1983 92.38
1984 92.65
1985 92.92
1986 94.25
1987 96.86
1988 98.31
1989 99.09
1990 99.52
1991 99.83
1992 99.98
1993 100.00
1994 100.00
1995 100.00
1996 100.00
1997 100.00
1998 100.00
1999 100.00
2000 100.00
2001 100.00
2002 100.00
2003 100.00
2004 100.00
2005 100.00
2006 100.00
2007 100.00
2008 100.00
2009 100.00
2010 100.00
2011 100.00
2012 100.00
2013 100.00
2014 100.00
2015 100.00
2016 100.00
2017 100.00
2018 100.00
2019 100.00
2020 100.00

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