Timor-Leste - Urban population

The value for Urban population in Timor-Leste was 412,936 as of 2020. As the graph below shows, over the past 60 years this indicator reached a maximum value of 412,936 in 2020 and a minimum value of 47,885 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 47,885
1961 49,459
1962 51,669
1963 53,995
1964 56,440
1965 58,999
1966 61,646
1967 64,378
1968 67,247
1969 70,322
1970 73,652
1971 77,329
1972 81,313
1973 85,315
1974 88,919
1975 91,823
1976 93,812
1977 94,993
1978 95,802
1979 96,914
1980 98,883
1981 101,946
1982 106,034
1983 110,972
1984 116,379
1985 121,970
1986 127,652
1987 133,526
1988 139,710
1989 146,407
1990 153,775
1991 161,133
1992 168,702
1993 176,438
1994 183,770
1995 190,262
1996 195,646
1997 200,083
1998 204,161
1999 208,767
2000 214,574
2001 221,870
2002 230,481
2003 240,026
2004 249,873
2005 259,142
2006 268,075
2007 276,809
2008 285,472
2009 294,236
2010 303,254
2011 312,563
2012 322,090
2013 331,905
2014 342,118
2015 352,787
2016 363,958
2017 375,614
2018 387,721
2019 400,182
2020 412,936

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