Panama - Urban population (% of total population)

Urban population (% of total population) in Panama was 68.41 as of 2020. Its highest value over the past 60 years was 68.41 in 2020, while its lowest value was 41.25 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 41.25
1961 41.85
1962 42.49
1963 43.14
1964 43.78
1965 44.43
1966 45.08
1967 45.73
1968 46.39
1969 47.04
1970 47.64
1971 47.92
1972 48.20
1973 48.48
1974 48.76
1975 49.04
1976 49.32
1977 49.60
1978 49.88
1979 50.16
1980 50.45
1981 50.79
1982 51.13
1983 51.47
1984 51.81
1985 52.14
1986 52.48
1987 52.82
1988 53.16
1989 53.50
1990 53.90
1991 54.76
1992 55.61
1993 56.46
1994 57.30
1995 58.14
1996 58.98
1997 59.81
1998 60.63
1999 61.45
2000 62.20
2001 62.50
2002 62.79
2003 63.09
2004 63.39
2005 63.68
2006 63.98
2007 64.27
2008 64.56
2009 64.85
2010 65.14
2011 65.44
2012 65.74
2013 66.05
2014 66.37
2015 66.70
2016 67.03
2017 67.37
2018 67.71
2019 68.06
2020 68.41

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