Sri Lanka | 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
Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
Records
63
Source
Sri Lanka | Urban population growth (annual %)
1960
1961 3.38870785
1962 3.37267116
1963 3.37847648
1964 2.98766854
1965 2.95751731
1966 2.93387984
1967 2.93459191
1968 2.92040844
1969 2.8348004
1970 2.75834692
1971 2.684434
1972 2.59010621
1973 2.51775179
1974 2.4268477
1975 2.36610911
1976 2.35037477
1977 2.32685499
1978 2.34608882
1979 2.38379126
1980 2.33245909
1981 2.06395736
1982 1.47993206
1983 1.32717352
1984 1.27776844
1985 1.28912776
1986 1.30653566
1987 1.31375482
1988 1.27398697
1989 1.20362748
1990 1.16256594
1991 1.14666335
1992 1.09997064
1993 1.05375272
1994 0.95219172
1995 0.83522807
1996 0.70746078
1997 0.6072903
1998 0.51663281
1999 0.50731022
2000 0.47890606
2001 0.6818583
2002 0.91430168
2003 0.92031655
2004 0.88352817
2005 0.84938375
2006 0.9135551
2007 0.95354143
2008 0.9434818
2009 0.88342412
2010 0.81664069
2011 0.83843364
2012 0.66934106
2013 0.55482417
2014 0.61820341
2015 0.66514675
2016 0.71612975
2017 0.77671748
2018 1.25507424
2019 1.20011316
2020 1.21697057
2021 1.85795176
2022 0.9890804

Sri Lanka | 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
Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
Records
63
Source