Moldova - Urban population (% of total population)

Urban population (% of total population) in Moldova was 42.85 as of 2020. Its highest value over the past 60 years was 46.86 in 1989, while its lowest value was 23.42 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 23.42
1961 24.22
1962 25.03
1963 25.86
1964 26.70
1965 27.57
1966 28.45
1967 29.35
1968 30.26
1969 31.19
1970 32.07
1971 32.88
1972 33.70
1973 34.53
1974 35.37
1975 36.22
1976 37.08
1977 37.95
1978 38.82
1979 39.64
1980 40.39
1981 41.14
1982 41.89
1983 42.65
1984 43.41
1985 44.18
1986 44.94
1987 45.71
1988 46.49
1989 46.86
1990 46.76
1991 46.67
1992 46.58
1993 46.48
1994 46.39
1995 46.29
1996 46.20
1997 45.80
1998 45.39
1999 44.99
2000 44.59
2001 44.19
2002 43.79
2003 43.39
2004 42.99
2005 42.78
2006 42.74
2007 42.71
2008 42.68
2009 42.65
2010 42.62
2011 42.59
2012 42.56
2013 42.53
2014 42.50
2015 42.49
2016 42.51
2017 42.56
2018 42.63
2019 42.73
2020 42.85

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