Suriname - Urban population

The value for Urban population in Suriname was 388,053 as of 2020. As the graph below shows, over the past 60 years this indicator reached a maximum value of 388,053 in 2020 and a minimum value of 136,047 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 136,047
1961 139,958
1962 143,848
1963 147,775
1964 151,618
1965 154,960
1966 158,517
1967 162,169
1968 165,482
1969 167,898
1970 169,055
1971 168,797
1972 172,033
1973 179,122
1974 185,972
1975 193,085
1976 200,681
1977 208,674
1978 217,000
1979 225,353
1980 233,551
1981 234,220
1982 235,000
1983 236,150
1984 238,014
1985 240,845
1986 244,713
1987 249,512
1988 254,936
1989 260,613
1990 266,220
1991 271,677
1992 277,020
1993 282,190
1994 287,174
1995 291,957
1996 296,489
1997 300,762
1998 304,859
1999 308,877
2000 312,914
2001 317,003
2002 321,120
2003 325,279
2004 329,467
2005 333,051
2006 336,600
2007 340,176
2008 343,778
2009 347,410
2010 351,043
2011 354,694
2012 358,349
2013 361,981
2014 365,656
2015 369,343
2016 373,049
2017 376,765
2018 380,497
2019 384,252
2020 388,053

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