The Bahamas - Urban population

The value for Urban population in The Bahamas was 327,359 as of 2020. As the graph below shows, over the past 60 years this indicator reached a maximum value of 327,359 in 2020 and a minimum value of 65,404 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 65,404
1961 69,594
1962 74,100
1963 78,857
1964 83,755
1965 88,718
1966 93,742
1967 98,792
1968 103,781
1969 108,568
1970 113,082
1971 117,255
1972 121,103
1973 124,773
1974 128,428
1975 132,259
1976 136,280
1977 140,465
1978 144,823
1979 149,311
1980 153,945
1981 158,999
1982 164,192
1983 169,463
1984 174,704
1985 179,861
1986 184,875
1987 189,764
1988 194,630
1989 199,588
1990 204,567
1991 208,980
1992 213,602
1993 218,256
1994 222,720
1995 226,836
1996 230,535
1997 233,902
1998 237,162
1999 240,614
2000 244,418
2001 248,295
2002 252,562
2003 257,180
2004 262,054
2005 267,084
2006 272,307
2007 277,676
2008 282,996
2009 288,018
2010 292,563
2011 296,570
2012 300,071
2013 303,261
2014 306,388
2015 309,636
2016 313,041
2017 316,565
2018 320,173
2019 323,788
2020 327,359

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