Philippines - Urban population (% of total population)

Urban population (% of total population) in Philippines was 47.41 as of 2020. Its highest value over the past 60 years was 47.41 in 2020, while its lowest value was 30.30 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 30.30
1961 30.56
1962 30.82
1963 31.08
1964 31.34
1965 31.60
1966 31.87
1967 32.14
1968 32.40
1969 32.67
1970 32.98
1971 33.49
1972 34.01
1973 34.53
1974 35.06
1975 35.56
1976 35.92
1977 36.28
1978 36.64
1979 37.00
1980 37.46
1981 38.39
1982 39.34
1983 40.30
1984 41.27
1985 42.24
1986 43.21
1987 44.20
1988 45.18
1989 46.17
1990 46.99
1991 46.90
1992 46.82
1993 46.73
1994 46.65
1995 46.56
1996 46.48
1997 46.39
1998 46.31
1999 46.22
2000 46.14
2001 46.05
2002 45.97
2003 45.88
2004 45.80
2005 45.71
2006 45.63
2007 45.54
2008 45.46
2009 45.37
2010 45.33
2011 45.52
2012 45.71
2013 45.90
2014 46.09
2015 46.28
2016 46.48
2017 46.68
2018 46.91
2019 47.15
2020 47.41

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