Mexico - Urban population (% of total population)

Urban population (% of total population) in Mexico was 80.73 as of 2020. Its highest value over the past 60 years was 80.73 in 2020, while its lowest value was 50.75 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 50.75
1961 51.59
1962 52.43
1963 53.27
1964 54.10
1965 54.93
1966 55.76
1967 56.59
1968 57.41
1969 58.23
1970 59.02
1971 59.78
1972 60.53
1973 61.28
1974 62.02
1975 62.76
1976 63.49
1977 64.22
1978 64.93
1979 65.65
1980 66.34
1981 66.87
1982 67.40
1983 67.92
1984 68.44
1985 68.95
1986 69.46
1987 69.96
1988 70.46
1989 70.96
1990 71.42
1991 71.82
1992 72.21
1993 72.60
1994 72.99
1995 73.37
1996 73.67
1997 73.93
1998 74.19
1999 74.44
2000 74.72
2001 75.05
2002 75.37
2003 75.68
2004 76.00
2005 76.31
2006 76.62
2007 76.92
2008 77.22
2009 77.52
2010 77.82
2011 78.11
2012 78.41
2013 78.70
2014 78.99
2015 79.29
2016 79.58
2017 79.87
2018 80.16
2019 80.44
2020 80.73

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