Sudan - Urban population

The value for Urban population in Sudan was 15,458,180 as of 2020. As the graph below shows, over the past 60 years this indicator reached a maximum value of 15,458,180 in 2020 and a minimum value of 810,732 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 810,732
1961 872,667
1962 939,444
1963 1,011,470
1964 1,089,191
1965 1,172,825
1966 1,262,983
1967 1,360,217
1968 1,464,967
1969 1,577,575
1970 1,698,844
1971 1,829,017
1972 1,968,958
1973 2,104,071
1974 2,199,225
1975 2,300,462
1976 2,407,883
1977 2,521,419
1978 2,640,884
1979 2,765,735
1980 2,895,545
1981 3,030,396
1982 3,170,939
1983 3,366,652
1984 3,648,592
1985 3,947,499
1986 4,262,686
1987 4,595,442
1988 4,951,602
1989 5,338,551
1990 5,764,226
1991 6,234,006
1992 6,748,182
1993 7,237,518
1994 7,510,085
1995 7,766,217
1996 8,000,745
1997 8,218,097
1998 8,426,426
1999 8,638,173
2000 8,863,017
2001 9,104,026
2002 9,358,047
2003 9,620,037
2004 9,882,155
2005 10,139,060
2006 10,389,190
2007 10,635,640
2008 10,883,300
2009 11,146,280
2010 11,430,600
2011 11,738,570
2012 12,069,180
2013 12,421,900
2014 12,794,290
2015 13,185,770
2016 13,596,340
2017 14,027,570
2018 14,480,890
2019 14,957,230
2020 15,458,180

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