Maldives - Urban population (% of total population)

Urban population (% of total population) in Maldives was 40.67 as of 2020. Its highest value over the past 60 years was 40.67 in 2020, while its lowest value was 11.17 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:

1960
1965
1970
1975
1980
1985
1990
1995
2000
2005
2010
2015
2020
0.00
10.00
20.00
30.00
40.00
50.00
Year Value
1960 11.17
1961 11.23
1962 11.29
1963 11.35
1964 11.40
1965 11.46
1966 11.39
1967 11.34
1968 11.52
1969 11.70
1970 11.89
1971 12.84
1972 13.86
1973 14.94
1974 16.09
1975 17.30
1976 18.60
1977 19.96
1978 20.98
1979 21.61
1980 22.25
1981 22.91
1982 23.57
1983 24.26
1984 24.95
1985 25.49
1986 25.57
1987 25.65
1988 25.73
1989 25.81
1990 25.84
1991 25.78
1992 25.71
1993 25.65
1994 25.59
1995 25.64
1996 26.01
1997 26.38
1998 26.76
1999 27.13
2000 27.71
2001 28.86
2002 30.04
2003 31.25
2004 32.49
2005 33.75
2006 34.79
2007 35.20
2008 35.61
2009 36.02
2010 36.43
2011 36.85
2012 37.27
2013 37.69
2014 38.11
2015 38.53
2016 38.95
2017 39.38
2018 39.81
2019 40.24
2020 40.67

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