South Asia - Urban population (% of total population)

Urban population (% of total population) in South Asia was 34.88 as of 2020. Its highest value over the past 60 years was 34.88 in 2020, while its lowest value was 16.74 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 16.74
1961 16.88
1962 17.06
1963 17.25
1964 17.45
1965 17.64
1966 17.83
1967 18.03
1968 18.22
1969 18.43
1970 18.64
1971 18.88
1972 19.21
1973 19.54
1974 19.90
1975 20.28
1976 20.67
1977 21.07
1978 21.48
1979 21.90
1980 22.33
1981 22.71
1982 22.97
1983 23.22
1984 23.49
1985 23.75
1986 24.01
1987 24.27
1988 24.54
1989 24.80
1990 25.06
1991 25.31
1992 25.54
1993 25.76
1994 25.98
1995 26.21
1996 26.44
1997 26.68
1998 26.91
1999 27.15
2000 27.38
2001 27.65
2002 27.99
2003 28.33
2004 28.68
2005 29.03
2006 29.38
2007 29.73
2008 30.09
2009 30.45
2010 30.82
2011 31.18
2012 31.56
2013 31.94
2014 32.34
2015 32.74
2016 33.15
2017 33.56
2018 33.99
2019 34.43
2020 34.88

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