Mozambique - Urban population (% of total population)

Urban population (% of total population) in Mozambique was 37.07 as of 2020. Its highest value over the past 60 years was 37.07 in 2020, while its lowest value was 6.87 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 6.87
1961 7.05
1962 7.25
1963 7.45
1964 7.65
1965 7.86
1966 8.08
1967 8.30
1968 8.52
1969 8.75
1970 8.99
1971 9.30
1972 9.67
1973 10.06
1974 10.46
1975 10.87
1976 11.30
1977 11.74
1978 12.20
1979 12.67
1980 13.16
1981 14.05
1982 15.04
1983 16.07
1984 17.17
1985 18.33
1986 19.54
1987 20.82
1988 22.15
1989 23.55
1990 25.00
1991 25.49
1992 25.98
1993 26.48
1994 26.98
1995 27.50
1996 28.01
1997 28.54
1998 28.74
1999 28.92
2000 29.10
2001 29.28
2002 29.46
2003 29.64
2004 29.82
2005 30.00
2006 30.18
2007 30.36
2008 30.83
2009 31.33
2010 31.83
2011 32.34
2012 32.85
2013 33.36
2014 33.88
2015 34.40
2016 34.93
2017 35.46
2018 35.99
2019 36.53
2020 37.07

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