IBRD only - Urban population (% of total population)

Urban population (% of total population) in IBRD only was 56.22 as of 2020. Its highest value over the past 60 years was 56.22 in 2020, while its lowest value was 26.00 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 26.00
1961 26.58
1962 27.10
1963 27.58
1964 28.07
1965 28.29
1966 28.50
1967 28.72
1968 28.94
1969 29.15
1970 29.35
1971 29.56
1972 29.82
1973 30.11
1974 30.46
1975 30.81
1976 31.16
1977 31.51
1978 31.98
1979 32.55
1980 33.12
1981 33.71
1982 34.28
1983 34.80
1984 35.33
1985 35.86
1986 36.39
1987 36.90
1988 37.42
1989 37.92
1990 38.40
1991 38.90
1992 39.41
1993 39.91
1994 40.42
1995 40.93
1996 41.44
1997 41.96
1998 42.49
1999 43.02
2000 43.56
2001 44.15
2002 44.79
2003 45.45
2004 46.11
2005 46.78
2006 47.43
2007 48.08
2008 48.73
2009 49.38
2010 50.03
2011 50.67
2012 51.29
2013 51.92
2014 52.54
2015 53.17
2016 53.79
2017 54.41
2018 55.02
2019 55.63
2020 56.22

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