Upper 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
Upper middle income
Records
63
Source
Upper middle income | Urban population growth (annual %)
1960
1961 3.34009014
1962 3.97184408
1963 4.52168826
1964 4.44927289
1965 2.94266999
1966 3.02732839
1967 3.01358444
1968 3.00703069
1969 3.01994176
1970 2.9966551
1971 3.01392562
1972 2.93400187
1973 3.06586299
1974 3.16741161
1975 3.03222423
1976 2.86187281
1977 2.7932338
1978 3.32805069
1979 3.81853259
1980 3.72217653
1981 3.73106587
1982 3.79384017
1983 3.52467801
1984 3.48569593
1985 3.44830591
1986 3.44144744
1987 3.44929004
1988 3.40082481
1989 3.24466515
1990 3.24560879
1991 3.15454384
1992 3.04131287
1993 2.98915536
1994 2.96908346
1995 2.90378746
1996 2.86362165
1997 2.82718115
1998 2.77822951
1999 2.69992625
2000 2.649802
2001 2.71315996
2002 2.76373735
2003 2.71987744
2004 2.68181003
2005 2.64768284
2006 2.52883601
2007 2.43087035
2008 2.47068924
2009 2.45695137
2010 2.39766109
2011 2.31244897
2012 2.32713366
2013 2.30991859
2014 2.24883905
2015 2.18384356
2016 2.11750518
2017 2.08003591
2018 1.98438874
2019 1.86834933
2020 1.69104269
2021 1.52518801
2022 1.40015167

Upper 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
Upper middle income
Records
63
Source