Solomon Islands - Urban population

The value for Urban population in Solomon Islands was 169,453 as of 2020. As the graph below shows, over the past 60 years this indicator reached a maximum value of 169,453 in 2020 and a minimum value of 6,797 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 6,797
1961 7,329
1962 7,904
1963 8,524
1964 9,193
1965 9,912
1966 10,686
1967 11,521
1968 12,429
1969 13,424
1970 14,289
1971 14,885
1972 15,528
1973 16,211
1974 16,921
1975 17,648
1976 18,598
1977 19,922
1978 21,323
1979 22,808
1980 24,383
1981 26,052
1982 27,819
1983 29,680
1984 31,631
1985 33,667
1986 35,794
1987 37,612
1988 39,226
1989 40,899
1990 42,654
1991 44,492
1992 46,415
1993 48,420
1994 50,512
1995 52,684
1996 54,943
1997 57,288
1998 59,719
1999 62,231
2000 65,255
2001 68,684
2002 72,269
2003 75,997
2004 79,847
2005 83,796
2006 87,841
2007 91,999
2008 96,334
2009 100,919
2010 105,826
2011 111,055
2012 116,607
2013 122,453
2014 128,547
2015 134,861
2016 141,374
2017 148,106
2018 155,047
2019 162,164
2020 169,453

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