Iran - Urban population (% of total population)

Urban population (% of total population) in Iran was 75.87 as of 2020. Its highest value over the past 60 years was 75.87 in 2020, while its lowest value was 33.74 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 33.74
1961 34.39
1962 35.05
1963 35.72
1964 36.39
1965 37.07
1966 37.75
1967 38.56
1968 39.44
1969 40.32
1970 41.21
1971 42.11
1972 43.01
1973 43.92
1974 44.83
1975 45.75
1976 46.67
1977 47.47
1978 48.21
1979 48.95
1980 49.69
1981 50.43
1982 51.18
1983 51.92
1984 52.66
1985 53.40
1986 54.13
1987 54.72
1988 55.26
1989 55.79
1990 56.33
1991 56.87
1992 57.65
1993 58.52
1994 59.38
1995 60.24
1996 61.09
1997 61.85
1998 62.59
1999 63.32
2000 64.04
2001 64.76
2002 65.47
2003 66.17
2004 66.87
2005 67.56
2006 68.24
2007 68.86
2008 69.46
2009 70.05
2010 70.63
2011 71.20
2012 71.76
2013 72.30
2014 72.83
2015 73.36
2016 73.88
2017 74.39
2018 74.90
2019 75.39
2020 75.87

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