Yemen - Urban population

The value for Urban population in Yemen was 11,306,430 as of 2020. As the graph below shows, over the past 60 years this indicator reached a maximum value of 11,306,430 in 2020 and a minimum value of 483,697 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 483,697
1961 510,127
1962 538,117
1963 567,679
1964 598,799
1965 631,541
1966 666,018
1967 702,505
1968 741,049
1969 781,336
1970 823,719
1971 855,364
1972 888,354
1973 923,700
1974 962,942
1975 1,007,121
1976 1,057,107
1977 1,112,838
1978 1,174,404
1979 1,241,187
1980 1,313,114
1981 1,390,286
1982 1,473,512
1983 1,562,693
1984 1,657,709
1985 1,758,695
1986 1,869,722
1987 1,994,529
1988 2,129,969
1989 2,280,915
1990 2,451,017
1991 2,643,604
1992 2,857,428
1993 3,086,211
1994 3,320,622
1995 3,543,403
1996 3,751,144
1997 3,952,862
1998 4,152,715
1999 4,357,536
2000 4,572,841
2001 4,799,794
2002 5,037,892
2003 5,287,133
2004 5,547,433
2005 5,818,282
2006 6,100,787
2007 6,395,608
2008 6,703,157
2009 7,023,786
2010 7,357,686
2011 7,705,087
2012 8,065,869
2013 8,439,119
2014 8,822,595
2015 9,215,168
2016 9,615,916
2017 10,024,990
2018 10,442,490
2019 10,869,520
2020 11,306,430

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