Yemen - Urban population (% of total population)

Urban population (% of total population) in Yemen was 37.91 as of 2020. Its highest value over the past 60 years was 37.91 in 2020, while its lowest value was 9.10 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 9.10
1961 9.46
1962 9.83
1963 10.22
1964 10.61
1965 11.03
1966 11.45
1967 11.89
1968 12.35
1969 12.82
1970 13.30
1971 13.60
1972 13.90
1973 14.21
1974 14.52
1975 14.84
1976 15.17
1977 15.50
1978 15.84
1979 16.18
1980 16.53
1981 16.89
1982 17.25
1983 17.62
1984 17.99
1985 18.37
1986 18.81
1987 19.32
1988 19.85
1989 20.39
1990 20.93
1991 21.49
1992 22.06
1993 22.64
1994 23.23
1995 23.76
1996 24.25
1997 24.74
1998 25.24
1999 25.75
2000 26.27
2001 26.79
2002 27.32
2003 27.85
2004 28.39
2005 28.94
2006 29.49
2007 30.05
2008 30.62
2009 31.19
2010 31.78
2011 32.36
2012 32.96
2013 33.56
2014 34.17
2015 34.78
2016 35.39
2017 36.02
2018 36.64
2019 37.27
2020 37.91

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