Tonga - Urban population

The value for Urban population in Tonga was 24,415 as of 2020. As the graph below shows, over the past 60 years this indicator reached a maximum value of 24,415 in 2020 and a minimum value of 10,807 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 10,807
1961 11,425
1962 12,129
1963 12,899
1964 13,702
1965 14,497
1966 15,284
1967 15,883
1968 16,318
1969 16,702
1970 17,027
1971 17,284
1972 17,479
1973 17,632
1974 17,786
1975 17,962
1976 18,173
1977 18,507
1978 18,924
1979 19,317
1980 19,666
1981 19,966
1982 20,220
1983 20,450
1984 20,674
1985 20,909
1986 21,164
1987 21,324
1988 21,417
1989 21,504
1990 21,584
1991 21,654
1992 21,720
1993 21,787
1994 21,859
1995 21,943
1996 22,042
1997 22,152
1998 22,275
1999 22,404
2000 22,543
2001 22,691
2002 22,844
2003 23,004
2004 23,176
2005 23,365
2006 23,581
2007 23,826
2008 24,069
2009 24,244
2010 24,320
2011 24,277
2012 24,076
2013 23,795
2014 23,567
2015 23,457
2016 23,487
2017 23,633
2018 23,871
2019 24,146
2020 24,415

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