The Gambia - Urban population

The value for Urban population in The Gambia was 1,512,397 as of 2020. As the graph below shows, over the past 60 years this indicator reached a maximum value of 1,512,397 in 2020 and a minimum value of 44,277 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 44,277
1961 45,925
1962 47,619
1963 49,858
1964 54,163
1965 58,896
1966 64,121
1967 69,876
1968 76,196
1969 83,071
1970 90,540
1971 98,633
1972 107,417
1973 116,409
1974 123,879
1975 131,897
1976 140,529
1977 149,806
1978 159,706
1979 170,136
1980 181,069
1981 192,382
1982 204,200
1983 217,117
1984 232,271
1985 249,555
1986 269,376
1987 291,635
1988 315,792
1989 340,853
1990 366,108
1991 391,212
1992 416,333
1993 441,170
1994 464,737
1995 489,374
1996 515,203
1997 542,096
1998 570,243
1999 599,747
2000 630,760
2001 663,374
2002 697,680
2003 733,010
2004 767,537
2005 803,056
2006 839,503
2007 877,006
2008 915,780
2009 956,056
2010 998,130
2011 1,042,056
2012 1,087,862
2013 1,135,416
2014 1,184,628
2015 1,235,413
2016 1,287,718
2017 1,341,601
2018 1,397,012
2019 1,453,952
2020 1,512,397

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