Uruguay - Urban population (% of total population)

Urban population (% of total population) in Uruguay was 95.52 as of 2020. Its highest value over the past 60 years was 95.52 in 2020, while its lowest value was 80.24 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 80.24
1961 80.46
1962 80.68
1963 80.90
1964 81.11
1965 81.33
1966 81.54
1967 81.75
1968 81.96
1969 82.16
1970 82.37
1971 82.57
1972 82.77
1973 82.97
1974 83.17
1975 83.39
1976 83.81
1977 84.22
1978 84.62
1979 85.01
1980 85.39
1981 85.77
1982 86.14
1983 86.50
1984 86.85
1985 87.19
1986 87.56
1987 87.93
1988 88.29
1989 88.63
1990 88.97
1991 89.30
1992 89.63
1993 89.94
1994 90.25
1995 90.54
1996 90.84
1997 91.15
1998 91.45
1999 91.74
2000 92.03
2001 92.30
2002 92.57
2003 92.83
2004 93.08
2005 93.32
2006 93.55
2007 93.78
2008 94.00
2009 94.21
2010 94.41
2011 94.61
2012 94.74
2013 94.84
2014 94.95
2015 95.05
2016 95.14
2017 95.24
2018 95.33
2019 95.43
2020 95.52

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