Tanzania - Urban population (% of total population)

Urban population (% of total population) in Tanzania was 35.23 as of 2020. Its highest value over the past 60 years was 35.23 in 2020, while its lowest value was 5.25 in 1960.

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 5.25
1961 5.39
1962 5.55
1963 5.70
1964 5.87
1965 6.03
1966 6.20
1967 6.37
1968 6.80
1969 7.31
1970 7.85
1971 8.43
1972 9.05
1973 9.70
1974 10.40
1975 11.15
1976 11.94
1977 12.77
1978 13.66
1979 14.14
1980 14.56
1981 14.98
1982 15.41
1983 15.85
1984 16.31
1985 16.77
1986 17.24
1987 17.73
1988 18.22
1989 18.57
1990 18.88
1991 19.21
1992 19.54
1993 19.87
1994 20.20
1995 20.54
1996 20.89
1997 21.24
1998 21.59
1999 21.95
2000 22.31
2001 22.67
2002 23.04
2003 23.61
2004 24.22
2005 24.85
2006 25.48
2007 26.12
2008 26.78
2009 27.44
2010 28.11
2011 28.80
2012 29.49
2013 30.20
2014 30.90
2015 31.62
2016 32.33
2017 33.05
2018 33.78
2019 34.50
2020 35.23

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