South Sudan - Urban population

The value for Urban population in South Sudan was 2,261,021 as of 2020. As the graph below shows, over the past 60 years this indicator reached a maximum value of 2,261,021 in 2020 and a minimum value of 248,681 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 248,681
1961 252,989
1962 257,478
1963 262,210
1964 267,128
1965 272,271
1966 277,671
1967 283,272
1968 289,147
1969 295,276
1970 301,638
1971 308,314
1972 315,250
1973 322,530
1974 330,092
1975 338,033
1976 346,179
1977 354,484
1978 363,299
1979 372,951
1980 383,577
1981 395,322
1982 407,808
1983 431,321
1984 471,985
1985 513,930
1986 557,380
1987 602,195
1988 647,099
1989 689,885
1990 729,200
1991 762,836
1992 791,149
1993 810,319
1994 804,990
1995 812,393
1996 835,351
1997 872,521
1998 920,008
1999 971,733
2000 1,023,148
2001 1,072,397
2002 1,121,013
2003 1,171,503
2004 1,227,929
2005 1,292,714
2006 1,366,953
2007 1,448,498
2008 1,533,768
2009 1,618,271
2010 1,698,195
2011 1,772,671
2012 1,842,403
2013 1,906,879
2014 1,965,952
2015 2,020,116
2016 2,068,145
2017 2,110,798
2018 2,152,927
2019 2,201,250
2020 2,261,021

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