Low 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
Low income
Records
63
Source
Low income | Urban population growth (annual %)
1960
4.91709962 1961
4.95112784 1962
5.05640392 1963
5.12760898 1964
5.18004321 1965
5.22883387 1966
5.34402521 1967
5.79391106 1968
6.08239993 1969
5.9296307 1970
4.6539319 1971
4.63548805 1972
4.53875924 1973
4.33281679 1974
4.27598843 1975
3.98160697 1976
3.92947868 1977
4.11880134 1978
4.17258174 1979
3.75356204 1980
3.48307952 1981
3.76563851 1982
4.22273362 1983
4.53134224 1984
4.67147895 1985
4.56171381 1986
4.50206326 1987
4.40336961 1988
4.34506009 1989
4.13382883 1990
3.849842 1991
4.30072398 1992
4.53526071 1993
4.26930212 1994
4.05093632 1995
3.69558755 1996
3.70082128 1997
3.6924334 1998
3.71835905 1999
3.63786704 2000
3.66570063 2001
3.90888637 2002
3.90474133 2003
3.79338928 2004
3.9019091 2005
4.10530577 2006
3.87643662 2007
4.17043481 2008
4.06679731 2009
4.10183181 2010
3.86917879 2011
3.62659131 2012
3.35245147 2013
3.34826824 2014
3.73103623 2015
3.96488287 2016
4.07057468 2017
4.13052856 2018
4.2396798 2019
4.22023755 2020
4.13070689 2021
4.13884101 2022
Low 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
Low income
Records
63
Source