Libya - Urban population (% of total population)

Urban population (% of total population) in Libya was 80.69 as of 2020. Its highest value over the past 60 years was 80.69 in 2020, while its lowest value was 27.32 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 27.32
1961 28.20
1962 29.09
1963 30.00
1964 30.92
1965 33.67
1966 36.70
1967 39.84
1968 43.07
1969 46.35
1970 49.67
1971 52.99
1972 56.29
1973 59.53
1974 61.24
1975 62.79
1976 64.31
1977 65.80
1978 67.27
1979 68.70
1980 70.09
1981 71.45
1982 72.77
1983 74.06
1984 75.30
1985 75.45
1986 75.51
1987 75.56
1988 75.61
1989 75.67
1990 75.72
1991 75.78
1992 75.83
1993 75.89
1994 75.94
1995 75.99
1996 76.05
1997 76.11
1998 76.19
1999 76.28
2000 76.39
2001 76.50
2002 76.63
2003 76.77
2004 76.92
2005 77.08
2006 77.25
2007 77.44
2008 77.63
2009 77.84
2010 78.05
2011 78.28
2012 78.51
2013 78.76
2014 79.01
2015 79.27
2016 79.54
2017 79.82
2018 80.10
2019 80.39
2020 80.69

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