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

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