Jamaica - Urban population (% of total population)

Urban population (% of total population) in Jamaica was 56.31 as of 2020. Its highest value over the past 60 years was 56.31 in 2020, while its lowest value was 33.77 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 33.77
1961 34.50
1962 35.24
1963 35.99
1964 36.74
1965 37.50
1966 38.27
1967 39.04
1968 39.82
1969 40.60
1970 41.32
1971 41.86
1972 42.40
1973 42.93
1974 43.47
1975 44.01
1976 44.56
1977 45.10
1978 45.65
1979 46.19
1980 46.74
1981 47.29
1982 47.81
1983 48.02
1984 48.22
1985 48.42
1986 48.63
1987 48.83
1988 49.04
1989 49.24
1990 49.44
1991 49.66
1992 49.90
1993 50.14
1994 50.38
1995 50.62
1996 50.86
1997 51.10
1998 51.34
1999 51.57
2000 51.81
2001 52.05
2002 52.25
2003 52.44
2004 52.63
2005 52.81
2006 53.00
2007 53.18
2008 53.37
2009 53.56
2010 53.74
2011 53.93
2012 54.13
2013 54.35
2014 54.58
2015 54.83
2016 55.10
2017 55.38
2018 55.67
2019 55.99
2020 56.31

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