Moldova - Urban population

The value for Urban population in Moldova was 1,122,856 as of 2020. As the graph below shows, over the past 60 years this indicator reached a maximum value of 1,388,647 in 1991 and a minimum value of 478,708 in 1960.

Definition: Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated using World Bank population estimates and urban ratios from the United Nations World Urbanization Prospects. Aggregation of urban and rural population may not add up to total population because of different country coverages.

Source: World Bank staff estimates based on the United Nations Population Division's World Urbanization Prospects: 2018 Revision.

See also:

Year Value
1960 478,708
1961 506,760
1962 535,594
1963 564,967
1964 595,057
1965 625,583
1966 656,545
1967 687,878
1968 719,537
1969 752,150
1970 784,168
1971 815,357
1972 847,653
1973 880,458
1974 913,552
1975 945,980
1976 978,270
1977 1,009,652
1978 1,041,326
1979 1,071,865
1980 1,101,797
1981 1,133,136
1982 1,165,711
1983 1,199,138
1984 1,233,146
1985 1,266,914
1986 1,300,492
1987 1,334,157
1988 1,366,829
1989 1,385,554
1990 1,388,409
1991 1,388,647
1992 1,386,598
1993 1,381,933
1994 1,375,039
1995 1,366,741
1996 1,361,237
1997 1,344,382
1998 1,332,014
1999 1,318,146
2000 1,303,686
2001 1,289,104
2002 1,274,481
2003 1,259,288
2004 1,244,624
2005 1,235,389
2006 1,231,068
2007 1,227,328
2008 1,224,104
2009 1,221,672
2010 1,219,566
2011 1,217,974
2012 1,216,928
2013 1,215,716
2014 1,214,089
2015 1,204,392
2016 1,191,230
2017 1,172,513
2018 1,154,485
2019 1,138,637
2020 1,122,856

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. To estimate urban populations, UN ratios of urban to total population were applied to the World Bank's estimates of total population. 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: Sum

Periodicity: Annual

Classification

Topic: Environment Indicators

Sub-Topic: Density & urbanization