Iceland - Urban population (% of total population)

Urban population (% of total population) in Iceland was 93.90 as of 2020. Its highest value over the past 60 years was 93.90 in 2020, while its lowest value was 80.30 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 80.30
1961 80.80
1962 81.30
1963 81.78
1964 82.26
1965 82.72
1966 83.18
1967 83.62
1968 84.06
1969 84.48
1970 84.90
1971 85.27
1972 85.63
1973 85.98
1974 86.33
1975 86.67
1976 87.00
1977 87.33
1978 87.64
1979 87.96
1980 88.26
1981 88.53
1982 88.80
1983 89.06
1984 89.32
1985 89.57
1986 89.82
1987 90.06
1988 90.29
1989 90.52
1990 90.75
1991 90.93
1992 91.11
1993 91.29
1994 91.46
1995 91.63
1996 91.80
1997 91.96
1998 92.12
1999 92.27
2000 92.40
2001 92.53
2002 92.66
2003 92.79
2004 92.91
2005 93.04
2006 93.16
2007 93.28
2008 93.40
2009 93.51
2010 93.57
2011 93.59
2012 93.60
2013 93.63
2014 93.67
2015 93.70
2016 93.74
2017 93.77
2018 93.81
2019 93.86
2020 93.90

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