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