Lebanon - Urban population (% of total population)

Urban population (% of total population) in Lebanon was 88.93 as of 2020. Its highest value over the past 60 years was 88.93 in 2020, while its lowest value was 42.34 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 42.34
1961 44.04
1962 45.75
1963 47.48
1964 49.21
1965 50.94
1966 52.66
1967 54.39
1968 56.10
1969 57.80
1970 59.48
1971 61.06
1972 62.58
1973 64.07
1974 65.54
1975 66.98
1976 68.39
1977 69.76
1978 71.10
1979 72.40
1980 73.67
1981 74.90
1982 76.09
1983 77.24
1984 78.35
1985 79.42
1986 80.45
1987 81.45
1988 82.40
1989 82.76
1990 83.12
1991 83.47
1992 83.82
1993 84.16
1994 84.49
1995 84.82
1996 85.14
1997 85.46
1998 85.77
1999 85.89
2000 86.00
2001 86.12
2002 86.24
2003 86.37
2004 86.49
2005 86.63
2006 86.76
2007 86.90
2008 87.04
2009 87.19
2010 87.33
2011 87.48
2012 87.64
2013 87.79
2014 87.95
2015 88.11
2016 88.27
2017 88.43
2018 88.59
2019 88.76
2020 88.93

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