Panama - Urban population

The value for Urban population in Panama was 2,951,905 as of 2020. As the graph below shows, over the past 60 years this indicator reached a maximum value of 2,951,905 in 2020 and a minimum value of 467,353 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 467,353
1961 488,475
1962 510,968
1963 534,421
1964 558,829
1965 584,125
1966 610,314
1967 637,424
1968 665,474
1969 694,507
1970 723,788
1971 749,019
1972 774,942
1973 801,459
1974 828,443
1975 855,783
1976 883,495
1977 911,514
1978 939,933
1979 968,722
1980 998,088
1981 1,028,907
1982 1,060,224
1983 1,092,017
1984 1,124,339
1985 1,157,157
1986 1,190,554
1987 1,224,504
1988 1,259,101
1989 1,294,319
1990 1,331,914
1991 1,381,582
1992 1,432,459
1993 1,484,558
1994 1,538,026
1995 1,592,870
1996 1,649,197
1997 1,706,836
1998 1,765,797
1999 1,825,830
2000 1,884,807
2001 1,930,933
2002 1,977,506
2003 2,024,626
2004 2,072,347
2005 2,120,752
2006 2,169,857
2007 2,219,605
2008 2,270,061
2009 2,321,157
2010 2,372,849
2011 2,425,409
2012 2,478,853
2013 2,533,389
2014 2,589,339
2015 2,646,824
2016 2,705,929
2017 2,766,522
2018 2,828,116
2019 2,890,085
2020 2,951,905

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