Low income - Urban population (% of total population)

Urban population (% of total population) in Low income was 33.45 as of 2020. Its highest value over the past 60 years was 33.45 in 2020, while its lowest value was 13.34 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 13.34
1961 13.68
1962 14.02
1963 14.37
1964 14.74
1965 15.12
1966 15.52
1967 15.94
1968 16.43
1969 16.98
1970 17.52
1971 17.88
1972 18.24
1973 18.60
1974 18.93
1975 19.27
1976 19.56
1977 19.87
1978 20.17
1979 20.45
1980 20.74
1981 21.06
1982 21.38
1983 21.72
1984 22.10
1985 22.51
1986 22.91
1987 23.30
1988 23.70
1989 24.08
1990 24.48
1991 24.86
1992 25.24
1993 25.60
1994 25.87
1995 26.12
1996 26.35
1997 26.60
1998 26.83
1999 27.06
2000 27.29
2001 27.53
2002 27.77
2003 28.00
2004 28.25
2005 28.52
2006 28.80
2007 29.02
2008 29.37
2009 29.72
2010 30.06
2011 30.34
2012 30.58
2013 30.83
2014 31.09
2015 31.44
2016 31.80
2017 32.18
2018 32.58
2019 33.01
2020 33.45

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