Middle income - Urban population (% of total population)

Urban population (% of total population) in Middle income was 53.27 as of 2020. Its highest value over the past 60 years was 53.27 in 2020, while its lowest value was 24.13 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 24.13
1961 24.64
1962 25.13
1963 25.58
1964 26.04
1965 26.27
1966 26.48
1967 26.71
1968 26.94
1969 27.16
1970 27.38
1971 27.63
1972 27.90
1973 28.22
1974 28.58
1975 28.88
1976 29.24
1977 29.60
1978 30.07
1979 30.63
1980 31.19
1981 31.76
1982 32.30
1983 32.79
1984 33.30
1985 33.81
1986 34.31
1987 34.81
1988 35.31
1989 35.80
1990 36.28
1991 36.76
1992 37.24
1993 37.71
1994 38.19
1995 38.67
1996 39.15
1997 39.63
1998 40.12
1999 40.62
2000 41.12
2001 41.69
2002 42.30
2003 42.93
2004 43.56
2005 44.19
2006 44.82
2007 45.44
2008 46.06
2009 46.69
2010 47.31
2011 47.92
2012 48.52
2013 49.13
2014 49.73
2015 50.33
2016 50.93
2017 51.53
2018 52.12
2019 52.70
2020 53.27

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