El Salvador - Urban population (% of total population)

Urban population (% of total population) in El Salvador was 73.44 as of 2020. Its highest value over the past 60 years was 73.44 in 2020, while its lowest value was 38.35 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 38.35
1961 38.53
1962 38.63
1963 38.73
1964 38.83
1965 38.93
1966 39.03
1967 39.13
1968 39.24
1969 39.34
1970 39.44
1971 39.54
1972 40.04
1973 40.54
1974 41.05
1975 41.55
1976 42.06
1977 42.57
1978 43.08
1979 43.59
1980 44.10
1981 44.61
1982 45.13
1983 45.64
1984 46.16
1985 46.68
1986 47.20
1987 47.71
1988 48.23
1989 48.75
1990 49.27
1991 49.79
1992 50.32
1993 51.42
1994 52.70
1995 53.99
1996 55.27
1997 56.54
1998 57.80
1999 58.36
2000 58.91
2001 59.46
2002 60.01
2003 60.56
2004 61.11
2005 61.65
2006 62.19
2007 62.77
2008 63.68
2009 64.57
2010 65.45
2011 66.33
2012 67.19
2013 68.04
2014 68.87
2015 69.70
2016 70.50
2017 71.28
2018 72.02
2019 72.75
2020 73.44

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