North Macedonia - Urban population (% of total population)

Urban population (% of total population) in North Macedonia was 58.48 as of 2020. Its highest value over the past 60 years was 59.79 in 1994, while its lowest value was 34.02 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 34.02
1961 35.21
1962 36.47
1963 37.75
1964 39.05
1965 40.36
1966 41.68
1967 43.02
1968 44.36
1969 45.72
1970 47.08
1971 48.25
1972 48.83
1973 49.41
1974 49.99
1975 50.57
1976 51.15
1977 51.73
1978 52.31
1979 52.89
1980 53.47
1981 54.01
1982 54.43
1983 54.85
1984 55.28
1985 55.70
1986 56.12
1987 56.54
1988 56.96
1989 57.37
1990 57.79
1991 58.23
1992 58.76
1993 59.29
1994 59.79
1995 59.59
1996 59.38
1997 59.17
1998 58.97
1999 58.76
2000 58.55
2001 58.34
2002 58.13
2003 57.92
2004 57.71
2005 57.53
2006 57.38
2007 57.26
2008 57.18
2009 57.12
2010 57.09
2011 57.09
2012 57.13
2013 57.19
2014 57.28
2015 57.41
2016 57.56
2017 57.75
2018 57.96
2019 58.21
2020 58.48

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