Malta - Urban population (% of total population)

Urban population (% of total population) in Malta was 94.74 as of 2020. Its highest value over the past 60 years was 94.74 in 2020, while its lowest value was 89.68 in 1968.

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 90.13
1961 90.07
1962 90.01
1963 89.95
1964 89.89
1965 89.83
1966 89.76
1967 89.70
1968 89.68
1969 89.69
1970 89.70
1971 89.71
1972 89.72
1973 89.73
1974 89.73
1975 89.74
1976 89.75
1977 89.76
1978 89.77
1979 89.78
1980 89.79
1981 89.79
1982 89.80
1983 89.81
1984 89.82
1985 89.83
1986 89.91
1987 90.03
1988 90.15
1989 90.27
1990 90.38
1991 90.50
1992 90.61
1993 90.72
1994 90.84
1995 90.95
1996 91.18
1997 91.49
1998 91.79
1999 92.09
2000 92.37
2001 92.64
2002 92.91
2003 93.16
2004 93.41
2005 93.65
2006 93.78
2007 93.86
2008 93.93
2009 94.00
2010 94.07
2011 94.14
2012 94.21
2013 94.28
2014 94.35
2015 94.41
2016 94.48
2017 94.55
2018 94.61
2019 94.68
2020 94.74

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