Vietnam - Urban population

The value for Urban population in Vietnam was 36,346,230 as of 2020. As the graph below shows, over the past 60 years this indicator reached a maximum value of 36,346,230 in 2020 and a minimum value of 4,802,497 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 4,802,497
1961 5,060,353
1962 5,330,493
1963 5,613,231
1964 5,908,339
1965 6,216,818
1966 6,538,718
1967 6,873,713
1968 7,220,824
1969 7,577,633
1970 7,943,079
1971 8,183,283
1972 8,422,824
1973 8,662,663
1974 8,904,814
1975 9,150,250
1976 9,399,460
1977 9,652,432
1978 9,911,703
1979 10,181,040
1980 10,447,630
1981 10,720,900
1982 11,006,070
1983 11,301,140
1984 11,603,770
1985 11,912,010
1986 12,225,170
1987 12,541,650
1988 12,862,590
1989 13,237,510
1990 13,772,500
1991 14,324,150
1992 14,889,790
1993 15,462,870
1994 16,036,820
1995 16,604,650
1996 17,163,390
1997 17,713,640
1998 18,256,420
1999 18,823,970
2000 19,477,360
2001 20,134,760
2002 20,800,240
2003 21,474,150
2004 22,163,650
2005 22,870,390
2006 23,598,140
2007 24,348,000
2008 25,120,980
2009 25,920,400
2010 26,757,120
2011 27,621,230
2012 28,513,910
2013 29,430,160
2014 30,371,040
2015 31,333,200
2016 32,315,310
2017 33,311,720
2018 34,319,150
2019 35,332,140
2020 36,346,230

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