Early-demographic dividend | 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
Early-demographic dividend
Records
63
Source
Early-demographic dividend | Urban population growth (annual %)
1960
1961 3.83041693
1962 3.99210257
1963 3.99933882
1964 4.01225871
1965 3.96148725
1966 3.92060954
1967 3.93913353
1968 3.92855554
1969 3.92449588
1970 3.89667787
1971 3.90827609
1972 4.10932298
1973 4.14691051
1974 4.1330654
1975 3.65777075
1976 4.08329892
1977 4.05487761
1978 4.05957084
1979 4.06125134
1980 4.14294262
1981 4.22394521
1982 3.95066153
1983 3.87790712
1984 3.84466365
1985 3.81737028
1986 3.78235633
1987 3.69672166
1988 3.64538239
1989 3.60062206
1990 3.79763369
1991 3.43228007
1992 3.21531976
1993 3.06205346
1994 3.01163177
1995 3.00572729
1996 2.97729706
1997 2.9292334
1998 2.86759414
1999 2.79915599
2000 2.77926437
2001 2.72378567
2002 2.71449898
2003 2.63628141
2004 2.6262988
2005 2.5964207
2006 2.59298082
2007 2.55680068
2008 2.51191354
2009 2.47679439
2010 2.47335537
2011 2.4089984
2012 2.32201204
2013 2.30969628
2014 2.32553919
2015 2.35276407
2016 2.29066357
2017 2.22183747
2018 2.2019292
2019 2.17702436
2020 2.08359625
2021 1.98562921
2022 1.99564087

Early-demographic dividend | 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
Early-demographic dividend
Records
63
Source