Suriname - Urban population (% of total population)

Urban population (% of total population) in Suriname was 66.15 as of 2020. Its highest value over the past 60 years was 66.74 in 2004, while its lowest value was 45.72 in 1971.

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 47.26
1961 47.30
1962 47.34
1963 47.37
1964 47.34
1965 47.11
1966 46.88
1967 46.64
1968 46.41
1969 46.18
1970 45.95
1971 45.72
1972 46.76
1973 49.09
1974 51.42
1975 53.75
1976 56.06
1977 58.35
1978 60.60
1979 62.80
1980 64.96
1981 65.04
1982 65.11
1983 65.18
1984 65.26
1985 65.33
1986 65.41
1987 65.48
1988 65.56
1989 65.63
1990 65.71
1991 65.78
1992 65.85
1993 65.93
1994 66.00
1995 66.08
1996 66.15
1997 66.22
1998 66.30
1999 66.37
2000 66.44
2001 66.52
2002 66.59
2003 66.66
2004 66.74
2005 66.68
2006 66.62
2007 66.55
2008 66.48
2009 66.41
2010 66.34
2011 66.28
2012 66.21
2013 66.14
2014 66.09
2015 66.06
2016 66.04
2017 66.04
2018 66.06
2019 66.10
2020 66.15

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