Vanuatu - Urban population

The value for Urban population in Vanuatu was 78,400 as of 2020. As the graph below shows, over the past 60 years this indicator reached a maximum value of 78,400 in 2020 and a minimum value of 6,626 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 6,626
1961 6,953
1962 7,298
1963 7,659
1964 8,032
1965 8,414
1966 8,802
1967 9,199
1968 9,612
1969 10,050
1970 10,522
1971 11,031
1972 11,572
1973 12,148
1974 12,750
1975 13,377
1976 14,028
1977 14,704
1978 15,397
1979 16,170
1980 17,039
1981 17,924
1982 18,826
1983 19,756
1984 20,723
1985 21,737
1986 22,798
1987 23,912
1988 25,093
1989 26,325
1990 27,432
1991 28,633
1992 29,926
1993 31,268
1994 32,609
1995 33,908
1996 35,141
1997 36,323
1998 37,507
1999 38,757
2000 40,087
2001 41,537
2002 43,120
2003 44,808
2004 46,558
2005 48,342
2006 50,148
2007 51,984
2008 53,894
2009 55,917
2010 57,783
2011 59,599
2012 61,530
2013 63,546
2014 65,605
2015 67,676
2016 69,754
2017 71,840
2018 73,971
2019 76,152
2020 78,400

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