Sierra Leone - Urban population (% of total population)

Urban population (% of total population) in Sierra Leone was 42.92 as of 2020. Its highest value over the past 60 years was 42.92 in 2020, while its lowest value was 17.35 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 17.35
1961 17.90
1962 18.47
1963 19.06
1964 19.71
1965 20.38
1966 21.06
1967 21.77
1968 22.48
1969 23.22
1970 23.97
1971 24.74
1972 25.52
1973 26.32
1974 27.14
1975 27.73
1976 28.14
1977 28.55
1978 28.97
1979 29.39
1980 29.82
1981 30.25
1982 30.68
1983 31.12
1984 31.56
1985 32.00
1986 32.33
1987 32.56
1988 32.79
1989 33.02
1990 33.25
1991 33.49
1992 33.72
1993 33.96
1994 34.19
1995 34.43
1996 34.67
1997 34.91
1998 35.14
1999 35.38
2000 35.63
2001 35.87
2002 36.11
2003 36.35
2004 36.60
2005 36.92
2006 37.30
2007 37.69
2008 38.08
2009 38.47
2010 38.86
2011 39.25
2012 39.64
2013 40.04
2014 40.43
2015 40.83
2016 41.23
2017 41.64
2018 42.06
2019 42.48
2020 42.92

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