Malaysia - Urban population (% of total population)

Urban population (% of total population) in Malaysia was 77.16 as of 2020. Its highest value over the past 60 years was 77.16 in 2020, while its lowest value was 26.60 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 26.60
1961 27.24
1962 27.90
1963 28.56
1964 29.23
1965 29.91
1966 30.60
1967 31.30
1968 32.01
1969 32.73
1970 33.45
1971 34.27
1972 35.10
1973 35.94
1974 36.79
1975 37.65
1976 38.52
1977 39.39
1978 40.27
1979 41.16
1980 42.04
1981 42.81
1982 43.57
1983 44.35
1984 45.12
1985 45.89
1986 46.67
1987 47.45
1988 48.23
1989 49.01
1990 49.79
1991 50.58
1992 51.81
1993 53.11
1994 54.40
1995 55.69
1996 56.97
1997 58.24
1998 59.50
1999 60.74
2000 61.98
2001 62.92
2002 63.86
2003 64.78
2004 65.69
2005 66.59
2006 67.48
2007 68.36
2008 69.23
2009 70.08
2010 70.91
2011 71.61
2012 72.28
2013 72.93
2014 73.58
2015 74.21
2016 74.84
2017 75.45
2018 76.04
2019 76.61
2020 77.16

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