Myanmar - Urban population (% of total population)

Urban population (% of total population) in Myanmar was 31.14 as of 2020. Its highest value over the past 60 years was 31.14 in 2020, while its lowest value was 19.23 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 19.23
1961 19.57
1962 19.91
1963 20.26
1964 20.61
1965 20.97
1966 21.33
1967 21.70
1968 22.07
1969 22.45
1970 22.83
1971 23.22
1972 23.61
1973 23.90
1974 23.91
1975 23.92
1976 23.93
1977 23.94
1978 23.95
1979 23.96
1980 23.97
1981 23.98
1982 23.99
1983 24.04
1984 24.21
1985 24.38
1986 24.55
1987 24.72
1988 24.90
1989 25.07
1990 25.24
1991 25.42
1992 25.59
1993 25.77
1994 25.95
1995 26.12
1996 26.30
1997 26.48
1998 26.66
1999 26.84
2000 27.03
2001 27.21
2002 27.39
2003 27.58
2004 27.76
2005 27.95
2006 28.13
2007 28.32
2008 28.51
2009 28.70
2010 28.89
2011 29.08
2012 29.27
2013 29.46
2014 29.65
2015 29.86
2016 30.08
2017 30.32
2018 30.58
2019 30.85
2020 31.14

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