Korea - Urban population (% of total population)

Urban population (% of total population) in Korea was 81.41 as of 2020. Its highest value over the past 60 years was 81.94 in 2010, while its lowest value was 27.71 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 27.71
1961 28.53
1962 29.46
1963 30.41
1964 31.37
1965 32.35
1966 33.35
1967 34.97
1968 36.85
1969 38.76
1970 40.70
1971 42.26
1972 43.69
1973 45.13
1974 46.58
1975 48.03
1976 49.72
1977 51.48
1978 53.23
1979 54.98
1980 56.72
1981 58.41
1982 60.06
1983 61.69
1984 63.30
1985 64.88
1986 66.68
1987 68.56
1988 70.39
1989 72.15
1990 73.84
1991 74.97
1992 75.82
1993 76.65
1994 77.45
1995 78.24
1996 78.66
1997 78.91
1998 79.15
1999 79.38
2000 79.62
2001 79.94
2002 80.30
2003 80.65
2004 81.00
2005 81.35
2006 81.53
2007 81.63
2008 81.73
2009 81.84
2010 81.94
2011 81.92
2012 81.85
2013 81.78
2014 81.71
2015 81.63
2016 81.56
2017 81.50
2018 81.46
2019 81.43
2020 81.41

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