Latin America & Caribbean (excluding 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
Latin America & Caribbean (excluding high income)
Records
63
Source
Latin America & Caribbean (excluding high income) | Urban population growth (annual %)
1960
1961 4.54275123
1962 4.56778084
1963 4.54082464
1964 4.50882427
1965 4.33110796
1966 4.25945073
1967 4.18363769
1968 4.11407281
1969 4.03958817
1970 3.96922075
1971 3.9370496
1972 3.88792074
1973 3.80912371
1974 3.75580878
1975 3.70464553
1976 3.64497811
1977 3.63352499
1978 3.62186635
1979 3.56625419
1980 3.47866837
1981 3.30887391
1982 3.20028252
1983 3.17054272
1984 3.11528983
1985 3.04562458
1986 2.96074619
1987 2.88993333
1988 2.84252109
1989 2.78529896
1990 2.75575677
1991 2.6800003
1992 2.57962833
1993 2.50717677
1994 2.47979948
1995 2.42849433
1996 2.33750445
1997 2.30555354
1998 2.254561
1999 2.18140592
2000 2.12249348
2001 1.93617088
2002 1.85744825
2003 1.79016294
2004 1.72979098
2005 1.69055799
2006 1.64100047
2007 1.59499589
2008 1.54569707
2009 1.51014711
2010 1.44543858
2011 1.54132981
2012 1.51527889
2013 1.46954211
2014 1.43836858
2015 1.41322699
2016 1.40162778
2017 1.41824329
2018 1.44159789
2019 1.39750121
2020 1.25022383
2021 1.09697866
2022 1.01887504
Latin America & Caribbean (excluding 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
Latin America & Caribbean (excluding high income)
Records
63
Source