Low & middle 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 & middle income
Records
63
Source
Low & middle income | Urban population growth (annual %)
1960
1961 3.50820971
1962 3.95225239
1963 4.29705836
1964 4.25644568
1965 3.32054665
1966 3.35237954
1967 3.34453707
1968 3.37055531
1969 3.393171
1970 3.3627906
1971 3.35103269
1972 3.38501829
1973 3.47445077
1974 3.53529463
1975 3.25375625
1976 3.37689761
1977 3.32464084
1978 3.60742766
1979 3.88915828
1980 3.88795715
1981 3.89899455
1982 3.79804503
1983 3.62583618
1984 3.61501424
1985 3.6008011
1986 3.590613
1987 3.56752864
1988 3.51237026
1989 3.39548126
1990 3.38876177
1991 3.23191307
1992 3.11569173
1993 3.04117364
1994 2.9965125
1995 2.93724378
1996 2.88219103
1997 2.85399914
1998 2.81911236
1999 2.76033526
2000 2.73596344
2001 2.8249827
2002 2.88154874
2003 2.84319695
2004 2.82351524
2005 2.79867327
2006 2.72954129
2007 2.65206304
2008 2.67411027
2009 2.65996292
2010 2.6433693
2011 2.58452045
2012 2.56167646
2013 2.55310665
2014 2.53280269
2015 2.49839239
2016 2.44732905
2017 2.41846578
2018 2.35922114
2019 2.28916237
2020 2.18422035
2021 2.06685453
2022 1.86656577

Low & middle 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 & middle income
Records
63
Source