Indonesia - Urban population (% of total population)

Urban population (% of total population) in Indonesia was 56.64 as of 2020. Its highest value over the past 60 years was 56.64 in 2020, while its lowest value was 14.59 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 14.59
1961 14.82
1962 15.06
1963 15.30
1964 15.54
1965 15.79
1966 16.04
1967 16.29
1968 16.55
1969 16.81
1970 17.07
1971 17.34
1972 17.78
1973 18.28
1974 18.79
1975 19.32
1976 19.85
1977 20.40
1978 20.96
1979 21.52
1980 22.10
1981 22.82
1982 23.61
1983 24.42
1984 25.24
1985 26.09
1986 26.95
1987 27.84
1988 28.74
1989 29.65
1990 30.58
1991 31.61
1992 32.70
1993 33.81
1994 34.93
1995 36.08
1996 37.24
1997 38.41
1998 39.59
1999 40.79
2000 42.00
2001 42.78
2002 43.57
2003 44.36
2004 45.15
2005 45.94
2006 46.74
2007 47.54
2008 48.34
2009 49.13
2010 49.91
2011 50.60
2012 51.28
2013 51.96
2014 52.64
2015 53.31
2016 53.99
2017 54.66
2018 55.33
2019 55.99
2020 56.64

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