Latin America & Caribbean | 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
Records
63
Source
Latin America & Caribbean | Urban population growth (annual %)
1960
4.47763886 1961
4.47629065 1962
4.44622805 1963
4.40561296 1964
4.23972136 1965
4.16381798 1966
4.08465557 1967
4.01700963 1968
3.94388879 1969
3.87542409 1970
3.83769906 1971
3.78494099 1972
3.71157809 1973
3.66266387 1974
3.61312762 1975
3.55725448 1976
3.53919859 1977
3.52614756 1978
3.47100119 1979
3.40094911 1980
3.27384055 1981
3.16147948 1982
3.10863173 1983
3.05236108 1984
2.9855037 1985
2.90774911 1986
2.84150744 1987
2.79416797 1988
2.73752575 1989
2.70349633 1990
2.62088328 1991
2.52815804 1992
2.46747215 1993
2.43804504 1994
2.38645281 1995
2.30200416 1996
2.26709861 1997
2.21294746 1998
2.14076741 1999
2.07993257 2000
1.9022536 2001
1.81063631 2002
1.74069246 2003
1.68241909 2004
1.64391545 2005
1.59492431 2006
1.5498612 2007
1.50302048 2008
1.46891738 2009
1.40905765 2010
1.4872599 2011
1.46160179 2012
1.41968975 2013
1.38749776 2014
1.36187019 2015
1.33368497 2016
1.28975456 2017
1.21666821 2018
1.18413401 2019
1.11826865 2020
0.98436884 2021
0.96320694 2022
Latin America & Caribbean | 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
Records
63
Source