Vietnam - Urban population (% of total population)

Urban population (% of total population) in Vietnam was 37.34 as of 2020. Its highest value over the past 60 years was 37.34 in 2020, while its lowest value was 14.70 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 14.70
1961 15.03
1962 15.37
1963 15.71
1964 16.06
1965 16.42
1966 16.78
1967 17.15
1968 17.53
1969 17.91
1970 18.30
1971 18.40
1972 18.49
1973 18.59
1974 18.69
1975 18.78
1976 18.88
1977 18.98
1978 19.08
1979 19.18
1980 19.25
1981 19.31
1982 19.37
1983 19.44
1984 19.50
1985 19.56
1986 19.63
1987 19.69
1988 19.75
1989 19.89
1990 20.26
1991 20.63
1992 21.01
1993 21.39
1994 21.77
1995 22.17
1996 22.56
1997 22.97
1998 23.37
1999 23.82
2000 24.37
2001 24.94
2002 25.51
2003 26.09
2004 26.68
2005 27.28
2006 27.89
2007 28.50
2008 29.13
2009 29.76
2010 30.42
2011 31.08
2012 31.75
2013 32.43
2014 33.12
2015 33.81
2016 34.51
2017 35.21
2018 35.92
2019 36.63
2020 37.34

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