Nicaragua - Urban population

The value for Urban population in Nicaragua was 3,909,282 as of 2020. As the graph below shows, over the past 60 years this indicator reached a maximum value of 3,909,282 in 2020 and a minimum value of 701,823 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 701,823
1961 732,458
1962 764,049
1963 798,056
1964 839,811
1965 883,343
1966 928,794
1967 976,196
1968 1,025,716
1969 1,077,506
1970 1,131,788
1971 1,185,711
1972 1,229,790
1973 1,275,573
1974 1,323,153
1975 1,372,498
1976 1,423,658
1977 1,476,499
1978 1,530,743
1979 1,586,114
1980 1,642,295
1981 1,699,224
1982 1,756,899
1983 1,814,861
1984 1,872,709
1985 1,930,058
1986 1,986,615
1987 2,042,452
1988 2,098,412
1989 2,155,679
1990 2,215,051
1991 2,276,834
1992 2,340,689
1993 2,405,598
1994 2,470,208
1995 2,532,510
1996 2,588,281
1997 2,642,515
1998 2,695,255
1999 2,746,869
2000 2,797,499
2001 2,847,189
2002 2,895,890
2003 2,944,162
2004 2,992,665
2005 3,042,132
2006 3,094,982
2007 3,148,772
2008 3,203,518
2009 3,258,927
2010 3,314,879
2011 3,371,400
2012 3,428,528
2013 3,486,219
2014 3,544,358
2015 3,602,941
2016 3,661,976
2017 3,722,300
2018 3,783,741
2019 3,846,138
2020 3,909,282

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