New Caledonia - Urban population

The value for Urban population in New Caledonia was 194,500 as of 2020. As the graph below shows, over the past 60 years this indicator reached a maximum value of 194,500 in 2020 and a minimum value of 29,514 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 29,514
1961 31,490
1962 33,547
1963 35,723
1964 38,025
1965 40,405
1966 43,143
1967 45,978
1968 48,910
1969 52,460
1970 57,380
1971 62,426
1972 66,278
1973 68,872
1974 71,240
1975 73,094
1976 74,870
1977 76,516
1978 77,895
1979 78,999
1980 80,425
1981 82,469
1982 84,793
1983 87,037
1984 88,993
1985 90,869
1986 92,813
1987 94,912
1988 97,022
1989 99,194
1990 101,816
1991 104,724
1992 107,631
1993 110,705
1994 113,966
1995 116,848
1996 119,477
1997 122,539
1998 125,629
1999 128,790
2000 132,030
2001 135,341
2002 138,724
2003 141,907
2004 144,893
2005 148,559
2006 152,384
2007 156,245
2008 160,140
2009 163,862
2010 167,587
2011 171,852
2012 176,182
2013 180,545
2014 184,770
2015 186,421
2016 188,063
2017 189,691
2018 191,304
2019 192,905
2020 194,500

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