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