Latvia - Urban population

The value for Urban population in Latvia was 1,298,292 as of 2020. As the graph below shows, over the past 60 years this indicator reached a maximum value of 1,845,533 in 1989 and a minimum value of 1,121,298 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 1,121,298
1961 1,155,193
1962 1,188,070
1963 1,221,599
1964 1,255,757
1965 1,287,767
1966 1,315,521
1967 1,343,866
1968 1,375,002
1969 1,404,638
1970 1,432,319
1971 1,459,887
1972 1,488,241
1973 1,517,255
1974 1,547,223
1975 1,575,779
1976 1,601,843
1977 1,627,400
1978 1,652,200
1979 1,671,120
1980 1,685,226
1981 1,699,098
1982 1,714,098
1983 1,731,364
1984 1,749,443
1985 1,768,075
1986 1,788,258
1987 1,810,950
1988 1,833,841
1989 1,845,533
1990 1,844,232
1991 1,834,229
1992 1,800,024
1993 1,763,518
1994 1,736,816
1995 1,708,476
1996 1,686,883
1997 1,668,936
1998 1,649,682
1999 1,630,787
2000 1,611,520
2001 1,588,107
2002 1,567,452
2003 1,551,233
2004 1,536,660
2005 1,522,383
2006 1,507,751
2007 1,494,021
2008 1,476,965
2009 1,452,351
2010 1,423,002
2011 1,397,904
2012 1,381,242
2013 1,367,090
2014 1,354,815
2015 1,344,323
2016 1,332,897
2017 1,322,185
2018 1,313,215
2019 1,305,648
2020 1,298,292

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