Iran - Urban population

The value for Urban population in Iran was 63,728,810 as of 2020. As the graph below shows, over the past 60 years this indicator reached a maximum value of 63,728,810 in 2020 and a minimum value of 7,390,296 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 7,390,296
1961 7,730,775
1962 8,086,725
1963 8,458,110
1964 8,845,872
1965 9,250,269
1966 9,673,716
1967 10,147,350
1968 10,660,840
1969 11,195,100
1970 11,751,140
1971 12,330,480
1972 12,936,590
1973 13,573,790
1974 14,250,520
1975 14,972,890
1976 15,742,300
1977 16,521,000
1978 17,336,710
1979 18,227,960
1980 19,206,470
1981 20,274,420
1982 21,426,580
1983 22,654,500
1984 23,944,610
1985 25,281,040
1986 26,666,060
1987 28,011,700
1988 29,328,930
1989 30,587,390
1990 31,751,090
1991 32,799,180
1992 33,888,650
1993 34,949,750
1994 35,978,700
1995 37,010,600
1996 38,054,100
1997 39,051,700
1998 40,038,690
1999 41,030,620
2000 42,026,540
2001 43,031,120
2002 44,050,020
2003 45,078,320
2004 46,107,030
2005 47,130,040
2006 48,145,860
2007 49,125,150
2008 50,093,530
2009 51,080,200
2010 52,095,520
2011 53,140,090
2012 54,203,640
2013 55,292,640
2014 56,418,320
2015 57,580,310
2016 58,781,880
2017 60,016,530
2018 61,266,720
2019 62,509,610
2020 63,728,810

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