IDA blend | 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
IDA blend
Records
63
Source
IDA blend | Urban population growth (annual %)
1960
4.22169595 1961
3.9345528 1962
4.04826405 1963
4.09157511 1964
4.12345036 1965
4.15310723 1966
4.17669839 1967
4.19235817 1968
4.20807775 1969
4.27823328 1970
4.61351071 1971
4.54776642 1972
4.73402905 1973
4.83020129 1974
4.89916033 1975
4.9268383 1976
4.85078621 1977
4.86697573 1978
4.89113779 1979
5.07021468 1980
5.49064437 1981
5.08088924 1982
4.73097699 1983
4.56026499 1984
4.69412047 1985
4.77419406 1986
4.7491722 1987
4.6779646 1988
4.64607301 1989
4.66152968 1990
4.17791046 1991
3.90699875 1992
3.7941058 1993
3.86736592 1994
3.87392121 1995
3.91717974 1996
3.84264929 1997
3.76140087 1998
3.65815049 1999
3.80699667 2000
4.10215573 2001
3.84411845 2002
3.6709846 2003
3.694698 2004
3.6585085 2005
3.65271615 2006
3.69790372 2007
3.72451688 2008
3.76421347 2009
3.87246917 2010
3.73384572 2011
3.44505189 2012
3.31884848 2013
3.25530777 2014
3.17786734 2015
3.11213075 2016
3.14358639 2017
3.20621364 2018
3.22368236 2019
3.27274837 2020
3.29157432 2021
3.3036835 2022
IDA blend | 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
IDA blend
Records
63
Source