Ecuador - Urban population (% of total population)

Urban population (% of total population) in Ecuador was 64.17 as of 2020. Its highest value over the past 60 years was 64.17 in 2020, while its lowest value was 33.88 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 33.88
1961 34.47
1962 35.06
1963 35.61
1964 36.12
1965 36.64
1966 37.16
1967 37.69
1968 38.22
1969 38.74
1970 39.28
1971 39.81
1972 40.35
1973 40.89
1974 41.46
1975 42.36
1976 43.28
1977 44.19
1978 45.11
1979 46.03
1980 46.96
1981 47.89
1982 48.82
1983 49.66
1984 50.44
1985 51.22
1986 51.99
1987 52.77
1988 53.55
1989 54.32
1990 55.09
1991 55.71
1992 56.23
1993 56.74
1994 57.25
1995 57.77
1996 58.28
1997 58.79
1998 59.29
1999 59.80
2000 60.30
2001 60.80
2002 61.12
2003 61.32
2004 61.51
2005 61.71
2006 61.91
2007 62.10
2008 62.30
2009 62.50
2010 62.69
2011 62.85
2012 62.99
2013 63.13
2014 63.26
2015 63.40
2016 63.53
2017 63.67
2018 63.82
2019 63.99
2020 64.17

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