Latvia - Urban population (% of total population)

Urban population (% of total population) in Latvia was 68.32 as of 2020. Its highest value over the past 60 years was 69.25 in 1990, while its lowest value was 52.87 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 52.87
1961 53.66
1962 54.46
1963 55.25
1964 56.05
1965 56.83
1966 57.62
1967 58.40
1968 59.18
1969 59.95
1970 60.71
1971 61.43
1972 62.12
1973 62.81
1974 63.48
1975 64.16
1976 64.83
1977 65.49
1978 66.14
1979 66.69
1980 67.10
1981 67.44
1982 67.72
1983 68.00
1984 68.28
1985 68.56
1986 68.78
1987 68.95
1988 69.11
1989 69.20
1990 69.25
1991 69.20
1992 68.85
1993 68.80
1994 68.90
1995 68.75
1996 68.65
1997 68.60
1998 68.45
1999 68.22
2000 68.07
2001 67.95
2002 67.85
2003 67.80
2004 67.90
2005 68.00
2006 67.97
2007 67.90
2008 67.83
2009 67.81
2010 67.84
2011 67.87
2012 67.90
2013 67.93
2014 67.95
2015 67.98
2016 68.02
2017 68.08
2018 68.14
2019 68.22
2020 68.32

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