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
Middle income
Records
63
Source
Create chart Download showed records Download Full dataset
Middle income | Urban population growth (annual %)
1960
3.45728842 1961
3.91564079 1962
4.26894886 1963
4.22395335 1964
3.25059052 1965
3.28046624 1966
3.26646304 1967
3.27402681 1968
3.28343838 1969
3.2552136 1970
3.29501349 1971
3.33054602 1972
3.42750245 1973
3.49973669 1974
3.20781264 1975
3.34943802 1976
3.29700742 1977
3.58392132 1978
3.87606287 1979
3.89418453 1980
3.91824043 1981
3.79953832 1982
3.59834023 1983
3.5725494 1984
3.55072399 1985
3.54470166 1986
3.5229121 1987
3.46942984 1988
3.34930461 1989
3.35218116 1990
3.20134511 1991
3.05670172 1992
2.96590132 1993
2.93141183 1994
2.87954021 1995
2.83956679 1996
2.80925393 1997
2.7725668 1998
2.70881827 1999
2.68698756 2000
2.77890663 2001
2.82475906 2002
2.78389768 2003
2.76874598 2004
2.73575185 2005
2.65018595 2006
2.58043894 2007
2.58547154 2008
2.5753378 2009
2.55436298 2010
2.50493798 2011
2.49482875 2012
2.50237546 2013
2.48061916 2014
2.41884483 2015
2.34814035 2016
2.30877668 2017
2.23959286 2018
2.15499446 2019
2.04131327 2020
1.91890045 2021
1.70013511 2022
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
Middle income
Records
63
Source
Create chart Download showed records Download Full dataset