Timor-Leste - Urban population (% of total population)

Urban population (% of total population) in Timor-Leste was 31.32 as of 2020. Its highest value over the past 60 years was 31.32 in 2020, while its lowest value was 10.09 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 10.09
1961 10.24
1962 10.51
1963 10.79
1964 11.07
1965 11.35
1966 11.65
1967 11.95
1968 12.25
1969 12.57
1970 12.89
1971 13.21
1972 13.55
1973 13.89
1974 14.24
1975 14.59
1976 14.96
1977 15.33
1978 15.70
1979 16.09
1980 16.48
1981 16.88
1982 17.29
1983 17.71
1984 18.13
1985 18.56
1986 19.00
1987 19.45
1988 19.91
1989 20.37
1990 20.84
1991 21.22
1992 21.54
1993 21.87
1994 22.20
1995 22.53
1996 22.87
1997 23.22
1998 23.56
1999 23.91
2000 24.26
2001 24.62
2002 24.98
2003 25.34
2004 25.71
2005 26.04
2006 26.37
2007 26.71
2008 27.05
2009 27.39
2010 27.73
2011 28.08
2012 28.43
2013 28.78
2014 29.13
2015 29.49
2016 29.85
2017 30.21
2018 30.58
2019 30.95
2020 31.32

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