Iraq - Urban population (% of total population)

Urban population (% of total population) in Iraq was 70.89 as of 2020. Its highest value over the past 60 years was 70.89 in 2020, while its lowest value was 42.90 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 42.90
1961 44.43
1962 45.98
1963 47.53
1964 49.09
1965 50.65
1966 51.87
1967 52.95
1968 54.02
1969 55.09
1970 56.15
1971 57.21
1972 58.27
1973 59.31
1974 60.35
1975 61.38
1976 62.40
1977 63.40
1978 64.18
1979 64.85
1980 65.52
1981 66.18
1982 66.84
1983 67.49
1984 68.13
1985 68.77
1986 69.40
1987 70.02
1988 70.07
1989 69.89
1990 69.71
1991 69.52
1992 69.34
1993 69.15
1994 68.97
1995 68.78
1996 68.59
1997 68.41
1998 68.39
1999 68.44
2000 68.50
2001 68.55
2002 68.60
2003 68.66
2004 68.71
2005 68.77
2006 68.82
2007 68.87
2008 68.93
2009 68.98
2010 69.10
2011 69.27
2012 69.43
2013 69.60
2014 69.76
2015 69.92
2016 70.09
2017 70.28
2018 70.47
2019 70.68
2020 70.89

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