Liberia - Urban population

The value for Urban population in Liberia was 2,634,493 as of 2020. As the graph below shows, over the past 60 years this indicator reached a maximum value of 2,634,493 in 2020 and a minimum value of 208,428 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 208,428
1961 220,362
1962 232,969
1963 246,273
1964 260,364
1965 275,268
1966 291,062
1967 307,802
1968 325,584
1969 344,454
1970 364,540
1971 385,908
1972 408,647
1973 432,820
1974 458,638
1975 486,250
1976 515,327
1977 545,754
1978 578,142
1979 613,293
1980 651,641
1981 693,907
1982 739,548
1983 785,739
1984 841,161
1985 909,221
1986 970,346
1987 1,024,266
1988 1,071,214
1989 1,112,489
1990 1,150,515
1991 1,183,282
1992 1,101,267
1993 1,028,062
1994 973,003
1995 939,724
1996 928,229
1997 1,007,342
1998 1,098,776
1999 1,187,548
2000 1,262,745
2001 1,319,608
2002 1,361,641
2003 1,395,783
2004 1,433,182
2005 1,481,974
2006 1,544,621
2007 1,618,166
2008 1,698,871
2009 1,781,147
2010 1,860,575
2011 1,936,128
2012 2,009,229
2013 2,081,048
2014 2,153,466
2015 2,228,064
2016 2,305,044
2017 2,383,887
2018 2,464,954
2019 2,548,426
2020 2,634,493

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