Turkey - Urban population (% of total population)

Urban population (% of total population) in Turkey was 76.11 as of 2020. Its highest value over the past 60 years was 76.11 in 2020, while its lowest value was 31.52 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 31.52
1961 32.06
1962 32.60
1963 33.14
1964 33.68
1965 34.23
1966 34.95
1967 35.76
1968 36.58
1969 37.40
1970 38.23
1971 38.95
1972 39.60
1973 40.26
1974 40.92
1975 41.59
1976 42.09
1977 42.51
1978 42.93
1979 43.36
1980 43.78
1981 45.19
1982 47.00
1983 48.81
1984 50.63
1985 52.45
1986 53.93
1987 55.26
1988 56.59
1989 57.90
1990 59.20
1991 59.98
1992 60.52
1993 61.06
1994 61.59
1995 62.12
1996 62.65
1997 63.18
1998 63.70
1999 64.22
2000 64.74
2001 65.34
2002 65.97
2003 66.60
2004 67.23
2005 67.84
2006 68.45
2007 69.05
2008 69.65
2009 70.24
2010 70.83
2011 71.40
2012 71.97
2013 72.53
2014 73.08
2015 73.61
2016 74.13
2017 74.64
2018 75.14
2019 75.63
2020 76.11

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