Lao PDR - Urban population

The value for Urban population in Lao PDR was 2,640,299 as of 2020. As the graph below shows, over the past 60 years this indicator reached a maximum value of 2,640,299 in 2020 and a minimum value of 168,526 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 168,526
1961 174,061
1962 179,800
1963 185,733
1964 191,896
1965 198,303
1966 204,893
1967 217,033
1968 229,963
1969 243,806
1970 258,761
1971 274,983
1972 292,465
1973 309,357
1974 324,131
1975 338,146
1976 351,143
1977 363,256
1978 375,285
1979 388,312
1980 403,261
1981 420,404
1982 439,774
1983 461,157
1984 484,296
1985 509,076
1986 535,666
1987 563,919
1988 593,714
1989 624,883
1990 657,380
1991 691,131
1992 726,041
1993 761,829
1994 798,178
1995 842,221
1996 902,800
1997 965,619
1998 1,030,927
1999 1,098,950
2000 1,169,990
2001 1,243,826
2002 1,320,796
2003 1,401,187
2004 1,485,874
2005 1,563,650
2006 1,622,169
2007 1,683,372
2008 1,747,053
2009 1,812,306
2010 1,878,750
2011 1,946,163
2012 2,014,817
2013 2,084,844
2014 2,157,060
2015 2,231,863
2016 2,309,515
2017 2,389,618
2018 2,471,807
2019 2,555,553
2020 2,640,299

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