Macao SAR, China - Urban population

The value for Urban population in Macao SAR, China was 649,342 as of 2020. As the graph below shows, over the past 60 years this indicator reached a maximum value of 649,342 in 2020 and a minimum value of 159,890 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 159,890
1961 162,502
1962 168,358
1963 176,457
1964 185,775
1965 195,455
1966 205,440
1967 215,695
1968 225,348
1969 233,316
1970 238,886
1971 241,800
1972 242,295
1973 240,952
1974 238,763
1975 236,535
1976 234,376
1977 232,336
1978 231,163
1979 231,697
1980 234,559
1981 240,100
1982 248,364
1983 258,531
1984 269,858
1985 281,724
1986 294,078
1987 306,874
1988 319,654
1989 331,825
1990 343,001
1991 352,933
1992 361,725
1993 369,703
1994 377,393
1995 385,170
1996 393,297
1997 401,353
1998 409,620
1999 418,388
2000 427,772
2001 437,928
2002 448,813
2003 460,157
2004 471,600
2005 482,863
2006 493,804
2007 504,504
2008 515,232
2009 526,401
2010 538,215
2011 550,833
2012 564,037
2013 577,368
2014 590,210
2015 602,093
2016 612,824
2017 622,578
2018 631,633
2019 640,446
2020 649,342

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