Japan - Urban population (% of total population)

Urban population (% of total population) in Japan was 91.78 as of 2020. Its highest value over the past 60 years was 91.78 in 2020, while its lowest value was 63.27 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 63.27
1961 64.21
1962 65.14
1963 66.06
1964 66.97
1965 67.87
1966 68.70
1967 69.52
1968 70.32
1969 71.10
1970 71.88
1971 72.67
1972 73.45
1973 74.22
1974 74.98
1975 75.72
1976 75.94
1977 76.00
1978 76.06
1979 76.12
1980 76.18
1981 76.27
1982 76.38
1983 76.49
1984 76.60
1985 76.71
1986 76.84
1987 76.96
1988 77.09
1989 77.21
1990 77.34
1991 77.47
1992 77.61
1993 77.75
1994 77.88
1995 78.02
1996 78.15
1997 78.27
1998 78.40
1999 78.52
2000 78.65
2001 79.99
2002 81.65
2003 83.20
2004 84.64
2005 85.98
2006 87.12
2007 88.15
2008 89.10
2009 89.99
2010 90.81
2011 91.07
2012 91.15
2013 91.23
2014 91.30
2015 91.38
2016 91.46
2017 91.54
2018 91.62
2019 91.70
2020 91.78

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