Lesotho - Urban population (% of total population)

Urban population (% of total population) in Lesotho was 29.03 as of 2020. Its highest value over the past 60 years was 29.03 in 2020, while its lowest value was 3.51 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 3.51
1961 3.96
1962 4.46
1963 5.03
1964 5.66
1965 6.37
1966 7.07
1967 7.43
1968 7.80
1969 8.20
1970 8.61
1971 9.04
1972 9.47
1973 9.91
1974 10.36
1975 10.82
1976 11.21
1977 11.27
1978 11.33
1979 11.39
1980 11.45
1981 11.51
1982 11.57
1983 11.63
1984 11.69
1985 11.75
1986 11.91
1987 12.39
1988 12.90
1989 13.43
1990 13.97
1991 14.53
1992 15.11
1993 15.70
1994 16.32
1995 16.96
1996 17.57
1997 18.05
1998 18.54
1999 19.04
2000 19.55
2001 20.07
2002 20.60
2003 21.14
2004 21.69
2005 22.25
2006 22.82
2007 23.30
2008 23.80
2009 24.29
2010 24.80
2011 25.31
2012 25.70
2013 26.10
2014 26.50
2015 26.91
2016 27.32
2017 27.73
2018 28.15
2019 28.59
2020 29.03

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