IDA blend - Urban population

The value for Urban population in IDA blend was 248,003,500 as of 2020. As the graph below shows, over the past 60 years this indicator reached a maximum value of 248,003,500 in 2020 and a minimum value of 22,287,060 in 1960.

Definition: Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated using World Bank population estimates and urban ratios from the United Nations World Urbanization Prospects. Aggregation of urban and rural population may not add up to total population because of different country coverages.

Source: World Bank staff estimates based on the United Nations Population Division's World Urbanization Prospects: 2018 Revision.

See also:

Year Value
1960 22,287,060
1961 23,213,360
1962 24,121,320
1963 25,090,990
1964 26,111,750
1965 27,182,290
1966 28,308,470
1967 29,498,400
1968 30,745,720
1969 32,046,650
1970 33,421,560
1971 34,987,810
1972 36,595,850
1973 38,316,480
1974 40,154,120
1975 42,110,810
1976 44,187,930
1977 46,344,200
1978 48,626,070
1979 50,990,180
1980 53,343,710
1981 55,934,200
1982 58,577,240
1983 61,339,960
1984 64,222,630
1985 67,217,110
1986 70,332,690
1987 73,566,450
1988 76,890,260
1989 80,359,790
1990 84,066,670
1991 87,444,780
1992 90,920,100
1993 94,447,030
1994 98,053,940
1995 101,775,600
1996 105,651,100
1997 109,655,400
1998 113,727,500
1999 117,787,600
2000 121,970,500
2001 126,587,400
2002 131,319,800
2003 136,125,000
2004 141,097,500
2005 146,271,300
2006 151,670,600
2007 157,314,700
2008 163,199,200
2009 169,295,200
2010 175,757,600
2011 182,311,100
2012 188,787,600
2013 195,460,800
2014 202,346,500
2015 209,437,700
2016 216,720,500
2017 224,185,900
2018 231,887,000
2019 239,831,600
2020 248,003,500

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. To estimate urban populations, UN ratios of urban to total population were applied to the World Bank's estimates of total population. 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: Sum

Periodicity: Annual

Classification

Topic: Environment Indicators

Sub-Topic: Density & urbanization