Malawi - Urban population (% of total population)

Urban population (% of total population) in Malawi was 17.43 as of 2020. Its highest value over the past 60 years was 17.43 in 2020, while its lowest value was 4.39 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 4.39
1961 4.49
1962 4.59
1963 4.69
1964 4.80
1965 4.91
1966 5.02
1967 5.25
1968 5.51
1969 5.77
1970 6.05
1971 6.35
1972 6.65
1973 6.97
1974 7.30
1975 7.65
1976 8.02
1977 8.39
1978 8.64
1979 8.84
1980 9.05
1981 9.26
1982 9.48
1983 9.70
1984 9.93
1985 10.16
1986 10.40
1987 10.64
1988 10.93
1989 11.24
1990 11.56
1991 11.89
1992 12.22
1993 12.56
1994 12.91
1995 13.26
1996 13.63
1997 14.00
1998 14.38
1999 14.52
2000 14.61
2001 14.70
2002 14.79
2003 14.88
2004 14.96
2005 15.05
2006 15.14
2007 15.24
2008 15.33
2009 15.43
2010 15.54
2011 15.67
2012 15.81
2013 15.97
2014 16.13
2015 16.31
2016 16.51
2017 16.71
2018 16.94
2019 17.17
2020 17.43

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