Namibia - Urban population (% of total population)

Urban population (% of total population) in Namibia was 52.03 as of 2020. Its highest value over the past 60 years was 52.03 in 2020, while its lowest value was 17.91 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 17.91
1961 18.33
1962 18.75
1963 19.17
1964 19.60
1965 20.04
1966 20.48
1967 20.93
1968 21.39
1969 21.85
1970 22.29
1971 22.56
1972 22.83
1973 23.10
1974 23.37
1975 23.65
1976 23.93
1977 24.21
1978 24.49
1979 24.78
1980 25.07
1981 25.36
1982 25.61
1983 25.86
1984 26.11
1985 26.37
1986 26.62
1987 26.88
1988 27.14
1989 27.40
1990 27.66
1991 27.92
1992 28.34
1993 28.82
1994 29.32
1995 29.81
1996 30.32
1997 30.82
1998 31.34
1999 31.85
2000 32.37
2001 32.90
2002 33.77
2003 34.71
2004 35.67
2005 36.63
2006 37.61
2007 38.60
2008 39.60
2009 40.60
2010 41.62
2011 42.64
2012 43.69
2013 44.76
2014 45.83
2015 46.90
2016 47.96
2017 49.01
2018 50.03
2019 51.04
2020 52.03

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