Portugal - Urban population (% of total population)

Urban population (% of total population) in Portugal was 66.31 as of 2020. Its highest value over the past 60 years was 66.31 in 2020, while its lowest value was 34.96 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 34.96
1961 35.34
1962 35.72
1963 36.10
1964 36.48
1965 36.87
1966 37.25
1967 37.64
1968 38.03
1969 38.41
1970 38.80
1971 39.20
1972 39.59
1973 39.99
1974 40.38
1975 40.78
1976 41.18
1977 41.58
1978 41.98
1979 42.38
1980 42.79
1981 43.22
1982 43.74
1983 44.26
1984 44.78
1985 45.30
1986 45.82
1987 46.34
1988 46.87
1989 47.39
1990 47.92
1991 48.47
1992 49.13
1993 49.79
1994 50.45
1995 51.11
1996 51.77
1997 52.43
1998 53.09
1999 53.74
2000 54.40
2001 55.04
2002 55.67
2003 56.29
2004 56.91
2005 57.52
2006 58.14
2007 58.75
2008 59.36
2009 59.96
2010 60.57
2011 61.17
2012 61.76
2013 62.35
2014 62.94
2015 63.51
2016 64.09
2017 64.65
2018 65.21
2019 65.76
2020 66.31

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