World | 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
World
Records
63
Source
World | Urban population growth (annual %)
1960
1961 2.81955763
1962 3.05950443
1963 3.24400068
1964 3.22208106
1965 2.70726323
1966 2.68382471
1967 2.66452526
1968 2.6603411
1969 2.65786521
1970 2.62648302
1971 2.66920859
1972 2.60035454
1973 2.63219047
1974 2.66070399
1975 2.48556059
1976 2.49970295
1977 2.46990356
1978 2.64909429
1979 2.83710271
1980 2.83868607
1981 2.86830777
1982 2.7782097
1983 2.65471074
1984 2.63842929
1985 2.64231831
1986 2.67118802
1987 2.68721198
1988 2.66397961
1989 2.60233396
1990 2.60306301
1991 2.55434856
1992 2.48240124
1993 2.41335664
1994 2.36987201
1995 2.32380882
1996 2.29081666
1997 2.26793241
1998 2.24330165
1999 2.20470866
2000 2.1876831
2001 2.30223815
2002 2.36702476
2003 2.33520226
2004 2.32617206
2005 2.3169706
2006 2.28962252
2007 2.25057482
2008 2.27266074
2009 2.23623689
2010 2.19419161
2011 2.08015885
2012 2.09283368
2013 2.09429845
2014 2.08520526
2015 2.06368476
2016 2.03137452
2017 1.99176128
2018 1.93629939
2019 1.8737145
2020 1.80112394
2021 1.6173522
2022 1.54875504

World | 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
World
Records
63
Source