Uruguay - Urban population

The value for Urban population in Uruguay was 3,317,930 as of 2020. As the graph below shows, over the past 60 years this indicator reached a maximum value of 3,317,930 in 2020 and a minimum value of 2,037,037 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 2,037,037
1961 2,069,227
1962 2,100,839
1963 2,131,790
1964 2,161,999
1965 2,191,413
1966 2,220,202
1967 2,248,172
1968 2,274,139
1969 2,296,514
1970 2,314,375
1971 2,327,056
1972 2,335,349
1973 2,341,506
1974 2,348,715
1975 2,359,996
1976 2,381,239
1977 2,405,987
1978 2,433,323
1979 2,461,591
1980 2,489,567
1981 2,516,998
1982 2,544,389
1983 2,571,627
1984 2,598,769
1985 2,625,864
1986 2,653,577
1987 2,681,375
1988 2,709,214
1989 2,737,521
1990 2,766,703
1991 2,796,695
1992 2,827,247
1993 2,858,054
1994 2,888,877
1995 2,919,323
1996 2,949,760
1997 2,980,651
1998 3,009,668
1999 3,034,863
2000 3,055,085
2001 3,069,509
2002 3,078,888
2003 3,085,288
2004 3,091,573
2005 3,099,870
2006 3,111,014
2007 3,124,485
2008 3,139,741
2009 3,155,696
2010 3,171,624
2011 3,187,408
2012 3,201,207
2013 3,214,643
2014 3,228,547
2015 3,242,948
2016 3,257,863
2017 3,273,061
2018 3,288,346
2019 3,303,391
2020 3,317,930

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