The Bahamas - Urban population (% of total population)

Urban population (% of total population) in The Bahamas was 83.25 as of 2020. Its highest value over the past 60 years was 83.25 in 2020, while its lowest value was 59.71 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 59.71
1961 60.45
1962 61.19
1963 61.93
1964 62.64
1965 63.34
1966 64.04
1967 64.73
1968 65.42
1969 66.09
1970 66.76
1971 67.43
1972 68.09
1973 68.74
1974 69.38
1975 70.02
1976 70.65
1977 71.27
1978 71.88
1979 72.48
1980 73.10
1981 73.84
1982 74.57
1983 75.29
1984 75.99
1985 76.67
1986 77.35
1987 78.01
1988 78.65
1989 79.28
1990 79.84
1991 80.07
1992 80.29
1993 80.52
1994 80.74
1995 80.96
1996 81.18
1997 81.40
1998 81.61
1999 81.82
2000 82.01
2001 82.05
2002 82.09
2003 82.13
2004 82.18
2005 82.22
2006 82.26
2007 82.30
2008 82.34
2009 82.39
2010 82.43
2011 82.48
2012 82.53
2013 82.60
2014 82.67
2015 82.75
2016 82.83
2017 82.93
2018 83.03
2019 83.13
2020 83.25

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