Africa Eastern and Southern | Urban population growth (annual %)
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. 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: 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.
Publisher
The World Bank
Origin
Africa Eastern and Southern
Records
63
Source
Africa Eastern and Southern | Urban population growth (annual %)
1960
1961 4.40548958
1962 4.52103963
1963 4.65380928
1964 4.76430418
1965 4.82056848
1966 4.83806778
1967 4.84935111
1968 4.90081186
1969 4.93773248
1970 4.80708438
1971 4.81082627
1972 4.85756004
1973 4.83436228
1974 4.74258556
1975 4.74056509
1976 4.7015171
1977 4.65633207
1978 4.85228814
1979 4.87697912
1980 4.57383078
1981 4.44654605
1982 4.49222263
1983 4.65562883
1984 4.85464387
1985 5.07015186
1986 5.31072593
1987 5.34027616
1988 5.15464186
1989 5.01167515
1990 5.07884958
1991 4.5965744
1992 4.34948147
1993 4.37495637
1994 4.31888522
1995 4.09929721
1996 3.78109791
1997 3.64304747
1998 3.58825235
1999 3.60147362
2000 3.60226234
2001 3.65537739
2002 3.71695791
2003 3.70808214
2004 3.73620497
2005 3.81460356
2006 3.80635746
2007 3.61360814
2008 4.1227758
2009 4.11393728
2010 4.12910703
2011 4.13138853
2012 4.07209617
2013 4.13567315
2014 4.18953564
2015 4.2827294
2016 4.12818866
2017 4.0211315
2018 4.10763261
2019 4.09098309
2020 4.06858924
2021 3.98769824
2022 3.92147315
Africa Eastern and Southern | Urban population growth (annual %)
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. 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: 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.
Publisher
The World Bank
Origin
Africa Eastern and Southern
Records
63
Source