Lebanon - Urban population

The value for Urban population in Lebanon was 6,069,524 as of 2020. As the graph below shows, over the past 60 years this indicator reached a maximum value of 6,084,990 in 2019 and a minimum value of 764,264 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 764,264
1961 821,157
1962 880,861
1963 942,378
1964 1,004,429
1965 1,065,751
1966 1,125,228
1967 1,182,750
1968 1,240,264
1969 1,300,672
1970 1,366,400
1971 1,437,380
1972 1,513,082
1973 1,590,231
1974 1,662,600
1975 1,725,183
1976 1,775,606
1977 1,814,944
1978 1,846,585
1979 1,875,897
1980 1,907,315
1981 1,943,104
1982 1,982,992
1983 2,025,288
1984 2,066,996
1985 2,106,265
1986 2,140,779
1987 2,172,944
1988 2,212,178
1989 2,256,482
1990 2,329,880
1991 2,438,801
1992 2,578,353
1993 2,731,845
1994 2,875,532
1995 2,992,771
1996 3,074,191
1997 3,126,453
1998 3,167,927
1999 3,218,765
2000 3,304,786
2001 3,436,969
2002 3,606,734
2003 3,790,067
2004 3,952,237
2005 4,070,396
2006 4,129,663
2007 4,142,872
2008 4,147,329
2009 4,196,333
2010 4,325,709
2011 4,550,937
2012 4,852,949
2013 5,191,037
2014 5,506,402
2015 5,755,684
2016 5,926,427
2017 6,030,303
2018 6,076,955
2019 6,084,990
2020 6,069,524

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