Tuvalu - Urban population (% of total population)

Urban population (% of total population) in Tuvalu was 64.01 as of 2020. Its highest value over the past 60 years was 64.01 in 2020, while its lowest value was 15.90 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 15.90
1961 16.44
1962 17.01
1963 17.59
1964 18.18
1965 18.79
1966 19.42
1967 20.06
1968 20.72
1969 21.39
1970 22.08
1971 22.79
1972 23.51
1973 24.24
1974 24.99
1975 25.76
1976 26.55
1977 27.34
1978 28.15
1979 28.98
1980 29.82
1981 30.68
1982 31.54
1983 32.43
1984 33.32
1985 34.25
1986 35.50
1987 36.76
1988 38.05
1989 39.35
1990 40.66
1991 41.99
1992 42.75
1993 43.16
1994 43.56
1995 43.97
1996 44.38
1997 44.79
1998 45.20
1999 45.61
2000 46.02
2001 46.43
2002 46.84
2003 47.66
2004 48.68
2005 49.70
2006 50.72
2007 51.74
2008 52.77
2009 53.78
2010 54.80
2011 55.81
2012 56.82
2013 57.81
2014 58.79
2015 59.73
2016 60.65
2017 61.53
2018 62.39
2019 63.22
2020 64.01

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