São Tomé and Principe - Urban population (% of total population)

Urban population (% of total population) in São Tomé and Principe was 74.35 as of 2020. Its highest value over the past 60 years was 74.35 in 2020, while its lowest value was 16.07 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 16.07
1961 16.81
1962 17.97
1963 19.19
1964 20.48
1965 21.83
1966 23.25
1967 24.72
1968 26.26
1969 27.86
1970 29.52
1971 30.21
1972 30.56
1973 30.92
1974 31.28
1975 31.64
1976 32.00
1977 32.37
1978 32.74
1979 33.11
1980 33.48
1981 33.86
1982 34.83
1983 35.89
1984 36.96
1985 38.05
1986 39.15
1987 40.26
1988 41.38
1989 42.51
1990 43.65
1991 44.79
1992 45.76
1993 46.72
1994 47.67
1995 48.63
1996 49.59
1997 50.55
1998 51.51
1999 52.47
2000 53.42
2001 54.38
2002 55.56
2003 56.77
2004 57.97
2005 59.17
2006 60.35
2007 61.52
2008 62.68
2009 63.82
2010 64.95
2011 66.06
2012 67.16
2013 68.21
2014 69.21
2015 70.17
2016 71.09
2017 71.97
2018 72.80
2019 73.60
2020 74.35

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