Mongolia - Urban population

The value for Urban population in Mongolia was 2,250,777 as of 2020. As the graph below shows, over the past 60 years this indicator reached a maximum value of 2,250,777 in 2020 and a minimum value of 340,918 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 340,918
1961 370,105
1962 401,800
1963 427,962
1964 446,838
1965 466,253
1966 486,160
1967 506,593
1968 527,710
1969 550,748
1970 576,134
1971 602,810
1972 630,731
1973 659,682
1974 689,478
1975 719,937
1976 751,020
1977 782,713
1978 815,219
1979 847,642
1980 880,006
1981 913,125
1982 946,960
1983 981,983
1984 1,018,845
1985 1,057,808
1986 1,099,383
1987 1,143,048
1988 1,186,955
1989 1,222,043
1990 1,245,680
1991 1,263,925
1992 1,277,491
1993 1,287,668
1994 1,296,473
1995 1,305,389
1996 1,314,886
1997 1,324,694
1998 1,334,933
1999 1,345,492
2000 1,369,716
2001 1,408,736
2002 1,448,952
2003 1,490,591
2004 1,533,859
2005 1,578,867
2006 1,625,768
2007 1,674,673
2008 1,726,026
2009 1,780,212
2010 1,837,756
2011 1,882,818
2012 1,921,642
2013 1,962,408
2014 2,004,068
2015 2,045,831
2016 2,087,401
2017 2,128,679
2018 2,169,853
2019 2,210,626
2020 2,250,777

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