Nicaragua - Urban population (% of total population)

Urban population (% of total population) in Nicaragua was 59.01 as of 2020. Its highest value over the past 60 years was 59.01 in 2020, while its lowest value was 39.58 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 39.58
1961 40.03
1962 40.48
1963 41.01
1964 41.86
1965 42.71
1966 43.57
1967 44.43
1968 45.29
1969 46.16
1970 47.03
1971 47.79
1972 48.06
1973 48.34
1974 48.62
1975 48.90
1976 49.18
1977 49.46
1978 49.73
1979 50.01
1980 50.29
1981 50.57
1982 50.85
1983 51.13
1984 51.41
1985 51.68
1986 51.96
1987 52.24
1988 52.52
1989 52.80
1990 53.08
1991 53.35
1992 53.63
1993 53.91
1994 54.18
1995 54.44
1996 54.59
1997 54.74
1998 54.89
1999 55.04
2000 55.19
2001 55.34
2002 55.48
2003 55.63
2004 55.78
2005 55.94
2006 56.13
2007 56.33
2008 56.53
2009 56.72
2010 56.92
2011 57.11
2012 57.31
2013 57.51
2014 57.70
2015 57.90
2016 58.09
2017 58.30
2018 58.52
2019 58.76
2020 59.01

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