IDA total | 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 total
Records
63
Source
IDA total | Urban population growth (annual %)
1960
4.69719419 1961
4.65504044 1962
4.75458335 1963
4.82247752 1964
4.86828101 1965
4.8435411 1966
4.96809288 1967
5.00867386 1968
5.02463515 1969
4.92499256 1970
4.95914988 1971
4.96354321 1972
5.07243985 1973
5.07874606 1974
3.40858741 1975
5.14653172 1976
5.11450347 1977
5.23003276 1978
5.12964954 1979
5.21196501 1980
5.02833651 1981
4.50968792 1982
4.56796662 1983
4.61482616 1984
4.70139233 1985
4.68004169 1986
4.63633308 1987
4.55541096 1988
4.47085979 1989
4.40604375 1990
4.05757279 1991
3.99860808 1992
4.02010186 1993
3.97279706 1994
3.87485073 1995
3.74939255 1996
3.71934948 1997
3.69766331 1998
3.65817036 1999
3.69800172 2000
3.91931071 2001
3.94446774 2002
3.88320327 2003
3.82173222 2004
3.81809862 2005
3.84370873 2006
3.76619741 2007
3.84618922 2008
3.8168561 2009
3.89375031 2010
3.77340127 2011
3.58331991 2012
3.43999738 2013
3.41271901 2014
3.51142876 2015
3.56950945 2016
3.60947812 2017
3.6327313 2018
3.65706098 2019
3.67033847 2020
3.64966345 2021
3.62648544 2022
IDA total | 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 total
Records
63
Source