Japan - Urban population

The value for Urban population in Japan was 115,494,800 as of 2020. As the graph below shows, over the past 60 years this indicator reached a maximum value of 116,416,200 in 2011 and a minimum value of 58,979,630 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 58,979,630
1961 60,395,540
1962 61,843,150
1963 63,355,380
1964 64,897,880
1965 66,476,100
1966 67,914,590
1967 69,431,890
1968 71,026,900
1969 72,679,750
1970 74,322,980
1971 76,805,780
1972 78,731,730
1973 80,682,340
1974 82,593,960
1975 84,478,620
1976 85,645,850
1977 86,545,000
1978 87,402,830
1979 88,213,150
1980 88,977,730
1981 89,743,580
1982 90,498,580
1983 91,261,500
1984 91,987,180
1985 92,696,480
1986 93,340,700
1987 93,946,740
1988 94,492,930
1989 95,025,260
1990 95,496,650
1991 96,038,630
1992 96,566,240
1993 97,049,550
1994 97,489,880
1995 97,888,240
1996 98,272,810
1997 98,667,340
1998 99,095,070
1999 99,434,460
2000 99,760,750
2001 101,706,500
2002 104,055,000
2003 106,256,300
2004 108,136,900
2005 109,856,700
2006 111,383,800
2007 112,827,800
2008 114,108,000
2009 115,228,200
2010 116,302,900
2011 116,416,200
2012 116,331,300
2013 116,263,000
2014 116,208,100
2015 116,182,700
2016 116,145,400
2017 116,053,400
2018 115,920,900
2019 115,782,400
2020 115,494,800

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