Burkina Faso - Urban population (% of total population)

Urban population (% of total population) in Burkina Faso was 30.61 as of 2020. Its highest value over the past 60 years was 30.61 in 2020, while its lowest value was 4.70 in 1960.

Definition: Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. The data are collected and smoothed by United Nations Population Division.

Source: United Nations Population Division. World Urbanization Prospects: 2018 Revision.

See also:

Year Value
1960 4.70
1961 4.80
1962 4.89
1963 4.99
1964 5.10
1965 5.20
1966 5.30
1967 5.41
1968 5.52
1969 5.63
1970 5.75
1971 5.86
1972 5.98
1973 6.10
1974 6.22
1975 6.35
1976 6.67
1977 7.15
1978 7.67
1979 8.22
1980 8.81
1981 9.43
1982 10.09
1983 10.80
1984 11.54
1985 12.33
1986 12.83
1987 13.07
1988 13.32
1989 13.56
1990 13.82
1991 14.07
1992 14.33
1993 14.59
1994 14.86
1995 15.13
1996 15.41
1997 15.88
1998 16.51
1999 17.17
2000 17.84
2001 18.54
2002 19.26
2003 20.00
2004 20.76
2005 21.54
2006 22.34
2007 23.00
2008 23.53
2009 24.08
2010 24.63
2011 25.20
2012 25.77
2013 26.35
2014 26.93
2015 27.53
2016 28.13
2017 28.74
2018 29.36
2019 29.98
2020 30.61

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: Aggregation of urban and rural population may not add up to total population because of different country coverage. 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. Percentages urban are the numbers of persons residing in an area defined as ''urban'' per 100 total population. They are calculated by the Statistics Division of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs. Particular caution should be used in interpreting the figures for percentage urban for different countries. 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.

Aggregation method: Weighted average

Periodicity: Annual

Classification

Topic: Environment Indicators

Sub-Topic: Density & urbanization