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