North America - Urban population

The value for Urban population in North America was 305,119,900 as of 2020. As the graph below shows, over the past 60 years this indicator reached a maximum value of 305,119,900 in 2020 and a minimum value of 138,875,000 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 138,875,000
1961 142,050,800
1962 145,157,000
1963 148,185,800
1964 151,199,600
1965 154,056,800
1966 156,823,500
1967 159,477,300
1968 162,004,100
1969 164,488,000
1970 167,109,800
1971 169,631,000
1972 171,465,500
1973 173,149,000
1974 174,814,600
1975 176,622,500
1976 178,369,600
1977 180,233,300
1978 182,170,800
1979 184,203,300
1980 186,155,100
1981 188,399,100
1982 190,641,300
1983 192,802,900
1984 194,889,500
1985 197,027,500
1986 199,269,500
1987 201,510,500
1988 203,797,700
1989 206,276,400
1990 209,231,900
1991 213,050,400
1992 217,071,900
1993 220,996,600
1994 224,788,000
1995 228,538,700
1996 232,288,300
1997 236,183,100
1998 240,006,400
1999 243,831,300
2000 247,519,400
2001 250,612,600
2002 253,516,100
2003 256,244,700
2004 259,163,400
2005 262,099,000
2006 265,190,200
2007 268,301,600
2008 271,462,200
2009 274,499,900
2010 277,437,400
2011 280,120,500
2012 282,845,300
2013 285,498,200
2014 288,277,400
2015 291,027,800
2016 293,894,600
2017 296,582,100
2018 299,083,000
2019 301,439,700
2020 305,119,900

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