Puerto Rico - Urban population

The value for Urban population in Puerto Rico was 3,070,896 as of 2020. As the graph below shows, over the past 60 years this indicator reached a maximum value of 3,605,100 in 2003 and a minimum value of 1,050,418 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 1,050,418
1961 1,102,264
1962 1,159,664
1963 1,220,307
1964 1,280,251
1965 1,336,533
1966 1,389,174
1967 1,436,971
1968 1,482,823
1969 1,532,032
1970 1,585,355
1971 1,636,045
1972 1,693,932
1973 1,756,462
1974 1,819,309
1975 1,879,334
1976 1,937,017
1977 1,991,958
1978 2,044,764
1979 2,096,577
1980 2,174,790
1981 2,327,244
1982 2,471,396
1983 2,606,230
1984 2,731,668
1985 2,847,385
1986 2,953,935
1987 3,051,544
1988 3,140,855
1989 3,222,218
1990 3,287,359
1991 3,316,538
1992 3,343,786
1993 3,377,742
1994 3,414,883
1995 3,452,136
1996 3,496,557
1997 3,534,616
1998 3,560,323
1999 3,583,400
2000 3,596,716
2001 3,602,364
2002 3,604,909
2003 3,605,100
2004 3,603,694
2005 3,596,360
2006 3,579,032
2007 3,555,977
2008 3,533,033
2009 3,511,647
2010 3,491,721
2011 3,449,657
2012 3,406,460
2013 3,366,210
2014 3,310,445
2015 3,251,779
2016 3,188,713
2017 3,112,035
2018 2,988,277
2019 2,988,531
2020 3,070,896

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