Oman - Urban population (% of total population)

Urban population (% of total population) in Oman was 86.28 as of 2020. Its highest value over the past 60 years was 86.28 in 2020, while its lowest value was 16.40 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 16.40
1961 17.48
1962 18.61
1963 19.79
1964 21.04
1965 22.34
1966 23.69
1967 25.11
1968 26.58
1969 28.09
1970 29.67
1971 31.29
1972 32.96
1973 34.67
1974 36.42
1975 38.21
1976 40.04
1977 41.89
1978 43.76
1979 45.65
1980 47.56
1981 49.47
1982 51.39
1983 53.29
1984 55.20
1985 57.08
1986 58.94
1987 60.78
1988 62.59
1989 64.37
1990 66.10
1991 67.80
1992 69.45
1993 71.04
1994 71.69
1995 71.67
1996 71.65
1997 71.63
1998 71.61
1999 71.59
2000 71.57
2001 71.55
2002 71.53
2003 71.51
2004 71.83
2005 72.40
2006 72.97
2007 73.53
2008 74.08
2009 74.62
2010 75.16
2011 76.18
2012 77.56
2013 78.88
2014 80.15
2015 81.35
2016 82.50
2017 83.56
2018 84.54
2019 85.44
2020 86.28

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