United States - Urban population (% of total population)

Urban population (% of total population) in United States was 82.66 as of 2020. Its highest value over the past 60 years was 82.66 in 2020, while its lowest value was 70.00 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 70.00
1961 70.38
1962 70.76
1963 71.13
1964 71.51
1965 71.88
1966 72.25
1967 72.61
1968 72.97
1969 73.33
1970 73.60
1971 73.61
1972 73.62
1973 73.63
1974 73.64
1975 73.65
1976 73.66
1977 73.67
1978 73.68
1979 73.69
1980 73.74
1981 73.89
1982 74.04
1983 74.19
1984 74.34
1985 74.49
1986 74.64
1987 74.79
1988 74.94
1989 75.09
1990 75.30
1991 75.70
1992 76.10
1993 76.49
1994 76.88
1995 77.26
1996 77.64
1997 78.01
1998 78.38
1999 78.74
2000 79.06
2001 79.23
2002 79.41
2003 79.58
2004 79.76
2005 79.93
2006 80.10
2007 80.27
2008 80.44
2009 80.61
2010 80.77
2011 80.94
2012 81.12
2013 81.30
2014 81.48
2015 81.67
2016 81.86
2017 82.06
2018 82.26
2019 82.46
2020 82.66

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