Lao PDR | 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
Lao People's Democratic Republic
Records
63
Source
Lao PDR | Urban population growth (annual %)
1960
1961 3.19180376
1962 3.22883916
1963 3.21833653
1964 3.20040878
1965 3.22241096
1966 3.2225756
1967 5.73382155
1968 5.76115317
1969 5.75343746
1970 5.78151788
1971 5.78813568
1972 5.79320724
1973 5.3281024
1974 4.62015662
1975 4.43616309
1976 4.17992307
1977 3.94206856
1978 3.86750075
1979 3.94389723
1980 4.15998194
1981 4.385502
1982 4.61276766
1983 4.75009719
1984 4.84640994
1985 4.95145436
1986 5.06332394
1987 5.09949889
1988 5.10878481
1989 5.09160476
1990 5.06312143
1991 5.01633375
1992 4.95322417
1993 4.87511411
1994 4.76761184
1995 5.51638958
1996 7.14472051
1997 6.83661713
1998 6.54860601
1999 6.40074965
2000 6.27632533
2001 6.14213901
2002 6.02265909
2003 5.87077375
2004 5.72665316
2005 4.99358137
2006 3.63313499
2007 3.60716806
2008 3.56954586
2009 3.51580333
2010 3.46805082
2011 3.42166575
2012 3.38179796
2013 3.32869546
2014 3.27616398
2015 3.31744827
2016 3.39884717
2017 3.39040751
2018 3.35234414
2019 3.31005992
2020 3.27080555
2021 3.20578552
2022 3.14881586
Lao PDR | 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
Lao People's Democratic Republic
Records
63
Source