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

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