Thailand - Urban population

The value for Urban population in Thailand was 35,898,130 as of 2020. As the graph below shows, over the past 60 years this indicator reached a maximum value of 35,898,130 in 2020 and a minimum value of 5,389,579 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 5,389,579
1961 5,583,026
1962 5,784,200
1963 5,993,375
1964 6,210,196
1965 6,434,859
1966 6,666,686
1967 6,905,739
1968 7,151,724
1969 7,404,743
1970 7,704,808
1971 8,140,086
1972 8,595,234
1973 9,067,632
1974 9,555,687
1975 10,055,880
1976 10,568,870
1977 11,092,600
1978 11,628,470
1979 12,176,750
1980 12,692,090
1981 13,071,770
1982 13,450,800
1983 13,832,450
1984 14,220,720
1985 14,616,960
1986 15,025,690
1987 15,443,620
1988 15,862,000
1989 16,267,070
1990 16,641,680
1991 16,936,800
1992 17,206,300
1993 17,462,830
1994 17,724,400
1995 18,004,310
1996 18,309,040
1997 18,632,440
1998 18,965,130
1999 19,293,240
2000 19,758,320
2001 20,680,740
2002 21,613,070
2003 22,554,370
2004 23,508,150
2005 24,472,850
2006 25,451,680
2007 26,439,740
2008 27,438,710
2009 28,447,160
2010 29,469,050
2011 30,179,360
2012 30,828,060
2013 31,478,000
2014 32,127,200
2015 32,772,700
2016 33,415,220
2017 34,051,230
2018 34,678,820
2019 35,294,600
2020 35,898,130

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