St. Lucia - Urban population (% of total population)

Urban population (% of total population) in St. Lucia was 18.84 as of 2020. Its highest value over the past 60 years was 29.57 in 1991, while its lowest value was 18.45 in 2010.

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 21.46
1961 21.70
1962 21.93
1963 22.17
1964 22.42
1965 22.66
1966 22.91
1967 23.15
1968 23.40
1969 23.65
1970 23.91
1971 24.16
1972 24.42
1973 24.68
1974 24.94
1975 25.20
1976 25.47
1977 25.73
1978 26.00
1979 26.27
1980 26.54
1981 26.81
1982 27.09
1983 27.36
1984 27.64
1985 27.92
1986 28.21
1987 28.49
1988 28.77
1989 29.06
1990 29.35
1991 29.57
1992 29.37
1993 29.17
1994 28.97
1995 28.77
1996 28.57
1997 28.37
1998 28.17
1999 27.97
2000 27.77
2001 27.47
2002 26.33
2003 25.22
2004 24.13
2005 23.09
2006 22.07
2007 21.08
2008 20.13
2009 19.21
2010 18.45
2011 18.45
2012 18.45
2013 18.46
2014 18.48
2015 18.52
2016 18.56
2017 18.61
2018 18.68
2019 18.75
2020 18.84

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