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