Samoa - Urban population

The value for Urban population in Samoa was 35,494 as of 2020. As the graph below shows, over the past 60 years this indicator reached a maximum value of 38,706 in 2002 and a minimum value of 20,559 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 20,559
1961 21,286
1962 22,067
1963 22,883
1964 23,708
1965 24,523
1966 25,327
1967 26,290
1968 27,282
1969 28,235
1970 29,135
1971 29,970
1972 30,567
1973 31,010
1974 31,408
1975 31,772
1976 32,107
1977 32,349
1978 32,542
1979 32,732
1980 32,929
1981 33,148
1982 33,361
1983 33,569
1984 33,760
1985 33,919
1986 34,037
1987 34,124
1988 34,210
1989 34,330
1990 34,513
1991 34,768
1992 35,180
1993 35,674
1994 36,160
1995 36,605
1996 36,999
1997 37,347
1998 37,672
1999 37,995
2000 38,340
2001 38,706
2002 38,706
2003 38,510
2004 38,322
2005 38,133
2006 37,949
2007 37,774
2008 37,614
2009 37,464
2010 37,334
2011 37,226
2012 37,107
2013 36,970
2014 36,808
2015 36,600
2016 36,342
2017 36,047
2018 35,780
2019 35,587
2020 35,494

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