Kiribati - Urban population (% of total population)

Urban population (% of total population) in Kiribati was 55.59 as of 2020. Its highest value over the past 60 years was 55.59 in 2020, while its lowest value was 16.29 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:

1960
1965
1970
1975
1980
1985
1990
1995
2000
2005
2010
2015
2020
0.00
10.00
20.00
30.00
40.00
50.00
60.00
70.00
Year Value
1960 16.29
1961 16.92
1962 17.57
1963 18.23
1964 18.92
1965 19.63
1966 20.35
1967 21.10
1968 21.86
1969 22.87
1970 24.09
1971 25.35
1972 26.65
1973 28.00
1974 28.96
1975 29.61
1976 30.26
1977 30.93
1978 31.60
1979 32.04
1980 32.28
1981 32.53
1982 32.78
1983 33.03
1984 33.28
1985 33.54
1986 33.83
1987 34.12
1988 34.41
1989 34.70
1990 34.99
1991 35.27
1992 35.56
1993 35.84
1994 36.12
1995 36.41
1996 37.39
1997 38.75
1998 40.14
1999 41.54
2000 42.96
2001 43.47
2002 43.49
2003 43.51
2004 43.53
2005 43.55
2006 44.03
2007 44.87
2008 45.71
2009 46.55
2010 47.39
2011 48.24
2012 49.08
2013 49.93
2014 50.77
2015 51.62
2016 52.45
2017 53.26
2018 54.06
2019 54.84
2020 55.59

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