Syrian Arab Republic - Urban population

The value for Urban population in Syrian Arab Republic was 9,708,489 as of 2020. As the graph below shows, over the past 60 years this indicator reached a maximum value of 11,877,570 in 2010 and a minimum value of 1,683,373 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 1,683,373
1961 1,765,941
1962 1,854,808
1963 1,948,103
1964 2,046,282
1965 2,149,577
1966 2,258,339
1967 2,372,747
1968 2,493,116
1969 2,619,596
1970 2,752,643
1971 2,874,817
1972 2,997,369
1973 3,125,162
1974 3,257,985
1975 3,395,669
1976 3,537,995
1977 3,685,169
1978 3,838,755
1979 4,000,338
1980 4,171,387
1981 4,352,357
1982 4,533,108
1983 4,718,569
1984 4,908,137
1985 5,099,737
1986 5,292,945
1987 5,488,085
1988 5,685,504
1989 5,885,952
1990 6,090,034
1991 6,297,359
1992 6,507,719
1993 6,722,172
1994 6,942,320
1995 7,187,665
1996 7,446,861
1997 7,715,278
1998 7,988,549
1999 8,259,697
2000 8,524,943
2001 8,771,256
2002 9,000,524
2003 9,238,597
2004 9,523,090
2005 9,875,009
2006 10,319,830
2007 10,835,840
2008 11,339,390
2009 11,713,490
2010 11,877,570
2011 11,506,450
2012 10,946,030
2013 10,284,370
2014 9,636,016
2015 9,388,889
2016 9,227,932
2017 9,146,183
2018 9,177,784
2019 9,358,017
2020 9,708,489

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