Samoa - Urban population (% of total population)

Urban population (% of total population) in Samoa was 17.89 as of 2020. Its highest value over the past 60 years was 22.07 in 2001, while its lowest value was 17.89 in 2020.

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 18.93
1961 18.99
1962 19.06
1963 19.14
1964 19.22
1965 19.30
1966 19.38
1967 19.59
1968 19.84
1969 20.10
1970 20.35
1971 20.61
1972 20.75
1973 20.83
1974 20.91
1975 20.99
1976 21.07
1977 21.11
1978 21.13
1979 21.15
1980 21.17
1981 21.19
1982 21.20
1983 21.20
1984 21.20
1985 21.20
1986 21.20
1987 21.20
1988 21.20
1989 21.20
1990 21.20
1991 21.20
1992 21.26
1993 21.35
1994 21.44
1995 21.53
1996 21.62
1997 21.71
1998 21.80
1999 21.89
2000 21.98
2001 22.07
2002 21.94
2003 21.70
2004 21.46
2005 21.22
2006 20.98
2007 20.75
2008 20.52
2009 20.30
2010 20.08
2011 19.86
2012 19.62
2013 19.39
2014 19.15
2015 18.91
2016 18.68
2017 18.45
2018 18.24
2019 18.06
2020 17.89

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