Papua New Guinea - Urban population

The value for Urban population in Papua New Guinea was 1,193,981 as of 2020. As the graph below shows, over the past 60 years this indicator reached a maximum value of 1,193,981 in 2020 and a minimum value of 84,031 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 84,031
1961 92,433
1962 101,735
1963 111,996
1964 123,391
1965 135,953
1966 149,892
1967 174,299
1968 202,568
1969 235,149
1970 272,636
1971 315,670
1972 329,750
1973 343,967
1974 358,898
1975 374,595
1976 391,112
1977 408,404
1978 426,629
1979 445,787
1980 465,936
1981 485,730
1982 506,033
1983 527,142
1984 548,920
1985 571,261
1986 594,190
1987 617,702
1988 641,817
1989 666,630
1990 692,099
1991 700,136
1992 707,490
1993 714,891
1994 722,465
1995 730,390
1996 738,735
1997 747,496
1998 756,274
1999 764,537
2000 772,116
2001 787,575
2002 802,822
2003 818,125
2004 834,122
2005 851,417
2006 870,145
2007 890,076
2008 910,743
2009 931,464
2010 951,756
2011 971,385
2012 990,657
2013 1,010,777
2014 1,032,122
2015 1,054,983
2016 1,079,465
2017 1,105,552
2018 1,133,367
2019 1,162,836
2020 1,193,981

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