Low income - Urban population

The value for Urban population in Low income was 222,498,100 as of 2020. As the graph below shows, over the past 60 years this indicator reached a maximum value of 222,498,100 in 2020 and a minimum value of 18,378,350 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 18,378,350
1961 19,268,220
1962 20,191,180
1963 21,162,830
1964 22,201,950
1965 23,324,530
1966 24,536,960
1967 25,841,940
1968 27,328,000
1969 28,984,680
1970 30,694,500
1971 32,127,210
1972 33,618,200
1973 35,151,430
1974 36,701,600
1975 38,309,340
1976 39,901,670
1977 41,567,230
1978 43,275,320
1979 44,980,320
1980 46,751,290
1981 48,643,440
1982 50,590,010
1983 52,651,320
1984 54,893,090
1985 57,321,740
1986 59,845,090
1987 62,470,660
1988 65,248,260
1989 68,138,900
1990 71,261,790
1991 74,503,360
1992 77,909,970
1993 81,440,730
1994 84,764,400
1995 88,087,440
1996 91,408,910
1997 94,826,350
1998 98,277,050
1999 101,862,500
2000 105,639,600
2001 109,614,400
2002 113,773,000
2003 118,088,700
2004 122,601,000
2005 127,384,800
2006 132,400,000
2007 137,237,100
2008 142,886,600
2009 148,646,100
2010 154,461,700
2011 160,012,200
2012 165,498,600
2013 171,129,100
2014 177,041,600
2015 183,627,800
2016 190,583,900
2017 197,912,700
2018 205,654,400
2019 213,843,200
2020 222,498,100

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