Papua New Guinea - Urban population (% of total population)

Urban population (% of total population) in Papua New Guinea was 13.35 as of 2020. Its highest value over the past 60 years was 14.99 in 1990, while its lowest value was 3.73 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 3.73
1961 4.02
1962 4.35
1963 4.69
1964 5.07
1965 5.47
1966 5.90
1967 6.71
1968 7.63
1969 8.65
1970 9.80
1971 11.08
1972 11.30
1973 11.51
1974 11.72
1975 11.93
1976 12.15
1977 12.37
1978 12.59
1979 12.82
1980 13.05
1981 13.24
1982 13.43
1983 13.62
1984 13.81
1985 14.00
1986 14.19
1987 14.39
1988 14.59
1989 14.79
1990 14.99
1991 14.82
1992 14.63
1993 14.45
1994 14.26
1995 14.08
1996 13.90
1997 13.72
1998 13.55
1999 13.38
2000 13.20
2001 13.18
2002 13.16
2003 13.15
2004 13.13
2005 13.11
2006 13.09
2007 13.07
2008 13.06
2009 13.04
2010 13.02
2011 13.00
2012 12.98
2013 12.98
2014 12.99
2015 13.01
2016 13.05
2017 13.10
2018 13.17
2019 13.25
2020 13.35

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