Gabon - Urban population (% of total population)

Urban population (% of total population) in Gabon was 90.09 as of 2020. Its highest value over the past 60 years was 90.09 in 2020, while its lowest value was 17.40 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 17.40
1961 18.33
1962 19.59
1963 20.92
1964 22.32
1965 23.78
1966 25.30
1967 26.88
1968 28.53
1969 30.24
1970 32.00
1971 34.08
1972 36.23
1973 38.43
1974 40.68
1975 42.97
1976 45.30
1977 47.63
1978 49.99
1979 52.34
1980 54.68
1981 57.00
1982 58.37
1983 59.73
1984 61.08
1985 62.40
1986 63.71
1987 65.00
1988 66.41
1989 67.79
1990 69.14
1991 70.46
1992 71.75
1993 73.00
1994 73.92
1995 74.80
1996 75.65
1997 76.49
1998 77.31
1999 78.10
2000 78.88
2001 79.63
2002 80.37
2003 81.08
2004 81.78
2005 82.45
2006 83.11
2007 83.74
2008 84.36
2009 84.96
2010 85.53
2011 86.09
2012 86.63
2013 87.16
2014 87.65
2015 88.12
2016 88.56
2017 88.98
2018 89.37
2019 89.74
2020 90.09

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