High income | 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
High income
Records
63
Source
High income | Urban population growth (annual %)
1960
1961 2.05352202
1962 2.06800898
1963 2.06025004
1964 2.03422113
1965 1.97404516
1966 1.87682025
1967 1.83286778
1968 1.78079759
1969 1.73497944
1970 1.68779797
1971 1.78532412
1972 1.57279995
1973 1.51335204
1974 1.47832095
1975 1.42145761
1976 1.26660931
1977 1.24292445
1978 1.25154774
1979 1.27317066
1980 1.23969514
1981 1.25804587
1982 1.14421663
1983 1.056867
1984 0.99160181
1985 0.98501039
1986 1.04092893
1987 1.08744911
1988 1.08479318
1989 1.09002845
1990 1.07233318
1991 1.20497451
1992 1.19623018
1993 1.1142848
1994 1.04922757
1995 1.0064818
1996 0.99709849
1997 0.96256191
1998 0.9372044
1999 0.92136438
2000 0.8991931
2001 1.05622984
2002 1.12983764
2003 1.09256554
2004 1.08988193
2005 1.10017738
2006 1.16180002
2007 1.20729951
2008 1.21705857
2009 1.10563098
2010 0.97574842
2011 0.68450349
2012 0.77391567
2013 0.78217217
2014 0.78419788
2015 0.78014845
2016 0.79375617
2017 0.73356794
2018 0.71525309
2019 0.66124767
2020 0.63578839
2021 0.18957404
2022 0.50171239

High income | 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
High income
Records
63
Source