West Bank and Gaza - Urban population (% of total population)

Urban population (% of total population) in West Bank and Gaza was 76.72 as of 2020. Its highest value over the past 60 years was 76.72 in 2020, while its lowest value was 44.04 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 44.04
1961 44.73
1962 45.66
1963 46.74
1964 47.82
1965 48.90
1966 49.98
1967 51.06
1968 52.15
1969 53.22
1970 54.30
1971 55.37
1972 56.44
1973 57.50
1974 58.55
1975 59.60
1976 60.16
1977 60.72
1978 61.28
1979 61.84
1980 62.39
1981 62.94
1982 63.48
1983 64.02
1984 64.56
1985 65.10
1986 65.63
1987 66.15
1988 66.68
1989 67.19
1990 67.71
1991 68.22
1992 68.73
1993 69.23
1994 69.72
1995 70.22
1996 70.71
1997 71.19
1998 71.52
1999 71.75
2000 71.97
2001 72.19
2002 72.41
2003 72.63
2004 72.85
2005 73.06
2006 73.28
2007 73.49
2008 73.70
2009 73.92
2010 74.15
2011 74.38
2012 74.62
2013 74.86
2014 75.11
2015 75.37
2016 75.63
2017 75.89
2018 76.16
2019 76.44
2020 76.72

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