United Kingdom - Urban population (% of total population)

Urban population (% of total population) in United Kingdom was 83.90 as of 2020. Its highest value over the past 60 years was 83.90 in 2020, while its lowest value was 77.03 in 1971.

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 78.44
1961 78.37
1962 78.24
1963 78.10
1964 77.96
1965 77.82
1966 77.68
1967 77.54
1968 77.40
1969 77.26
1970 77.12
1971 77.03
1972 77.20
1973 77.36
1974 77.52
1975 77.68
1976 77.84
1977 78.01
1978 78.16
1979 78.32
1980 78.48
1981 78.59
1982 78.54
1983 78.49
1984 78.44
1985 78.39
1986 78.34
1987 78.29
1988 78.24
1989 78.19
1990 78.14
1991 78.11
1992 78.17
1993 78.23
1994 78.29
1995 78.35
1996 78.41
1997 78.47
1998 78.53
1999 78.59
2000 78.65
2001 78.75
2002 79.05
2003 79.34
2004 79.63
2005 79.92
2006 80.20
2007 80.48
2008 80.76
2009 81.03
2010 81.30
2011 81.57
2012 81.84
2013 82.10
2014 82.37
2015 82.63
2016 82.89
2017 83.14
2018 83.40
2019 83.65
2020 83.90

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