Mauritania - Urban population (% of total population)

Urban population (% of total population) in Mauritania was 55.33 as of 2020. Its highest value over the past 60 years was 55.33 in 2020, while its lowest value was 6.88 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 6.88
1961 7.44
1962 8.03
1963 8.67
1964 9.36
1965 10.09
1966 10.87
1967 11.71
1968 12.61
1969 13.55
1970 14.56
1971 15.64
1972 16.77
1973 17.97
1974 19.24
1975 20.57
1976 21.97
1977 23.33
1978 24.63
1979 25.98
1980 27.37
1981 28.81
1982 30.30
1983 31.82
1984 33.39
1985 34.99
1986 36.63
1987 38.31
1988 39.57
1989 39.45
1990 39.32
1991 39.20
1992 39.08
1993 38.95
1994 38.83
1995 38.71
1996 38.58
1997 38.46
1998 38.34
1999 38.21
2000 38.09
2001 38.62
2002 39.48
2003 40.35
2004 41.23
2005 42.11
2006 43.00
2007 43.89
2008 44.79
2009 45.69
2010 46.59
2011 47.49
2012 48.40
2013 49.31
2014 50.20
2015 51.09
2016 51.96
2017 52.82
2018 53.67
2019 54.51
2020 55.33

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