Saudi Arabia - Urban population (% of total population)

Urban population (% of total population) in Saudi Arabia was 84.29 as of 2020. Its highest value over the past 60 years was 84.29 in 2020, while its lowest value was 31.25 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 31.25
1961 32.37
1962 33.52
1963 35.01
1964 36.87
1965 38.77
1966 40.70
1967 42.67
1968 44.65
1969 46.66
1970 48.67
1971 50.69
1972 52.71
1973 54.71
1974 56.70
1975 58.35
1976 59.90
1977 61.42
1978 62.93
1979 64.41
1980 65.86
1981 67.28
1982 68.67
1983 70.03
1984 71.36
1985 72.65
1986 73.90
1987 74.59
1988 75.27
1989 75.93
1990 76.58
1991 77.22
1992 77.85
1993 78.19
1994 78.43
1995 78.67
1996 78.91
1997 79.15
1998 79.38
1999 79.62
2000 79.85
2001 80.08
2002 80.30
2003 80.53
2004 80.75
2005 80.98
2006 81.20
2007 81.43
2008 81.65
2009 81.87
2010 82.08
2011 82.30
2012 82.52
2013 82.74
2014 82.96
2015 83.18
2016 83.40
2017 83.62
2018 83.84
2019 84.07
2020 84.29

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