Nepal - Urban population (% of total population)

Urban population (% of total population) in Nepal was 20.58 as of 2020. Its highest value over the past 60 years was 20.58 in 2020, while its lowest value was 3.48 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 3.48
1961 3.57
1962 3.61
1963 3.65
1964 3.70
1965 3.74
1966 3.78
1967 3.82
1968 3.87
1969 3.91
1970 3.96
1971 4.01
1972 4.20
1973 4.40
1974 4.61
1975 4.83
1976 5.06
1977 5.30
1978 5.55
1979 5.82
1980 6.09
1981 6.38
1982 6.62
1983 6.86
1984 7.12
1985 7.39
1986 7.66
1987 7.94
1988 8.24
1989 8.54
1990 8.85
1991 9.18
1992 9.58
1993 10.00
1994 10.43
1995 10.88
1996 11.35
1997 11.83
1998 12.34
1999 12.86
2000 13.40
2001 13.95
2002 14.24
2003 14.54
2004 14.84
2005 15.15
2006 15.46
2007 15.78
2008 16.11
2009 16.43
2010 16.77
2011 17.11
2012 17.46
2013 17.82
2014 18.18
2015 18.56
2016 18.94
2017 19.34
2018 19.74
2019 20.15
2020 20.58

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