Singapore - Urban population

The value for Urban population in Singapore was 5,685,807 as of 2020. As the graph below shows, over the past 60 years this indicator reached a maximum value of 5,703,569 in 2019 and a minimum value of 1,646,400 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 1,646,400
1961 1,702,400
1962 1,750,200
1963 1,795,000
1964 1,841,600
1965 1,886,900
1966 1,934,400
1967 1,977,600
1968 2,012,000
1969 2,042,500
1970 2,074,507
1971 2,112,900
1972 2,152,400
1973 2,193,000
1974 2,229,800
1975 2,262,600
1976 2,293,300
1977 2,325,300
1978 2,353,600
1979 2,383,500
1980 2,413,945
1981 2,532,835
1982 2,646,466
1983 2,681,061
1984 2,732,221
1985 2,735,957
1986 2,733,373
1987 2,774,789
1988 2,846,108
1989 2,930,901
1990 3,047,132
1991 3,135,083
1992 3,230,698
1993 3,313,471
1994 3,419,048
1995 3,524,506
1996 3,670,704
1997 3,796,038
1998 3,927,213
1999 3,958,723
2000 4,027,887
2001 4,138,012
2002 4,175,950
2003 4,114,826
2004 4,166,664
2005 4,265,762
2006 4,401,365
2007 4,588,599
2008 4,839,396
2009 4,987,573
2010 5,076,732
2011 5,183,688
2012 5,312,437
2013 5,399,162
2014 5,469,724
2015 5,535,002
2016 5,607,283
2017 5,612,253
2018 5,638,676
2019 5,703,569
2020 5,685,807

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