The Gambia - Urban population (% of total population)

Urban population (% of total population) in The Gambia was 62.58 as of 2020. Its highest value over the past 60 years was 62.58 in 2020, while its lowest value was 12.13 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 12.13
1961 12.33
1962 12.54
1963 12.86
1964 13.68
1965 14.53
1966 15.43
1967 16.38
1968 17.37
1969 18.41
1970 19.50
1971 20.63
1972 21.81
1973 22.94
1974 23.68
1975 24.43
1976 25.19
1977 25.97
1978 26.77
1979 27.59
1980 28.41
1981 29.26
1982 30.11
1983 31.01
1984 32.01
1985 33.02
1986 34.05
1987 35.09
1988 36.16
1989 37.23
1990 38.31
1991 39.41
1992 40.52
1993 41.59
1994 42.47
1995 43.36
1996 44.26
1997 45.16
1998 46.06
1999 46.96
2000 47.87
2001 48.78
2002 49.68
2003 50.56
2004 51.29
2005 52.02
2006 52.75
2007 53.48
2008 54.21
2009 54.94
2010 55.66
2011 56.38
2012 57.11
2013 57.82
2014 58.53
2015 59.23
2016 59.92
2017 60.60
2018 61.27
2019 61.93
2020 62.58

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