China - Urban population (% of total population)

Urban population (% of total population) in China was 61.43 as of 2020. Its highest value over the past 60 years was 61.43 in 2020, while its lowest value was 16.20 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 16.20
1961 16.71
1962 17.23
1963 17.76
1964 18.30
1965 18.09
1966 17.92
1967 17.79
1968 17.66
1969 17.53
1970 17.40
1971 17.29
1972 17.18
1973 17.18
1974 17.29
1975 17.40
1976 17.46
1977 17.52
1978 17.90
1979 18.62
1980 19.36
1981 20.12
1982 20.90
1983 21.55
1984 22.20
1985 22.87
1986 23.56
1987 24.26
1988 24.97
1989 25.70
1990 26.44
1991 27.31
1992 28.20
1993 29.10
1994 30.02
1995 30.96
1996 31.92
1997 32.88
1998 33.87
1999 34.87
2000 35.88
2001 37.09
2002 38.43
2003 39.78
2004 41.14
2005 42.52
2006 43.87
2007 45.20
2008 46.54
2009 47.88
2010 49.23
2011 50.51
2012 51.77
2013 53.01
2014 54.26
2015 55.50
2016 56.74
2017 57.96
2018 59.15
2019 60.31
2020 61.43

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