Zambia - Urban population (% of total population)

Urban population (% of total population) in Zambia was 44.63 as of 2020. Its highest value over the past 60 years was 44.63 in 2020, while its lowest value was 18.15 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 18.15
1961 18.95
1962 19.79
1963 20.71
1964 22.02
1965 23.37
1966 24.79
1967 26.26
1968 27.79
1969 29.37
1970 30.35
1971 31.24
1972 32.15
1973 33.06
1974 33.99
1975 34.93
1976 35.89
1977 36.86
1978 37.83
1979 38.82
1980 39.82
1981 39.85
1982 39.81
1983 39.76
1984 39.71
1985 39.66
1986 39.61
1987 39.56
1988 39.51
1989 39.46
1990 39.41
1991 38.99
1992 38.51
1993 38.04
1994 37.57
1995 37.10
1996 36.64
1997 36.18
1998 35.72
1999 35.26
2000 34.80
2001 35.00
2002 35.48
2003 35.95
2004 36.43
2005 36.91
2006 37.40
2007 37.88
2008 38.37
2009 38.86
2010 39.36
2011 39.85
2012 40.35
2013 40.87
2014 41.38
2015 41.91
2016 42.44
2017 42.98
2018 43.52
2019 44.07
2020 44.63

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