Myanmar - Urban population

The value for Urban population in Myanmar was 16,943,750 as of 2020. As the graph below shows, over the past 60 years this indicator reached a maximum value of 16,943,750 in 2020 and a minimum value of 4,179,145 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 4,179,145
1961 4,345,927
1962 4,519,105
1963 4,699,731
1964 4,888,947
1965 5,087,430
1966 5,295,939
1967 5,514,236
1968 5,742,344
1969 5,979,482
1970 6,225,527
1971 6,480,177
1972 6,744,256
1973 6,988,799
1974 7,154,403
1975 7,322,786
1976 7,494,463
1977 7,667,844
1978 7,843,988
1979 8,022,812
1980 8,204,595
1981 8,388,056
1982 8,573,724
1983 8,773,360
1984 9,016,919
1985 9,259,194
1986 9,501,252
1987 9,742,331
1988 9,979,724
1989 10,210,960
1990 10,434,240
1991 10,647,650
1992 10,851,860
1993 11,052,320
1994 11,256,260
1995 11,468,850
1996 11,692,260
1997 11,924,110
1998 12,161,320
1999 12,396,390
2000 12,626,000
2001 12,849,010
2002 13,066,100
2003 13,277,060
2004 13,481,500
2005 13,679,550
2006 13,869,370
2007 14,052,310
2008 14,233,440
2009 14,419,340
2010 14,616,050
2011 14,825,520
2012 15,046,730
2013 15,274,180
2014 15,501,260
2015 15,729,410
2016 15,957,060
2017 16,186,650
2018 16,423,470
2019 16,674,090
2020 16,943,750

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