Qatar - Urban population

The value for Urban population in Qatar was 2,859,020 as of 2020. As the graph below shows, over the past 60 years this indicator reached a maximum value of 2,859,020 in 2020 and a minimum value of 40,406 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 40,406
1961 44,069
1962 48,446
1963 53,389
1964 58,630
1965 64,099
1966 69,727
1967 75,587
1968 81,880
1969 88,878
1970 96,766
1971 105,800
1972 115,729
1973 126,193
1974 136,467
1975 146,090
1976 154,581
1977 162,373
1978 171,092
1979 183,034
1980 199,835
1981 221,980
1982 248,572
1983 277,785
1984 306,995
1985 334,168
1986 359,556
1987 384,397
1988 406,663
1989 425,893
1990 441,917
1991 454,657
1992 464,505
1993 472,408
1994 479,735
1995 487,764
1996 498,265
1997 512,082
1998 528,886
1999 548,266
2000 570,611
2001 593,524
2002 619,672
2003 660,437
2004 731,410
2005 842,875
2006 998,885
2007 1,193,061
2008 1,409,934
2009 1,627,406
2010 1,828,503
2011 2,007,401
2012 2,167,463
2013 2,308,190
2014 2,431,364
2015 2,538,640
2016 2,628,233
2017 2,699,605
2018 2,757,620
2019 2,809,075
2020 2,859,020

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