New Caledonia - Urban population (% of total population)

Urban population (% of total population) in New Caledonia was 71.52 as of 2020. Its highest value over the past 60 years was 71.52 in 2020, while its lowest value was 37.36 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 37.36
1961 38.78
1962 40.22
1963 41.68
1964 43.16
1965 44.65
1966 46.14
1967 47.65
1968 49.16
1969 50.44
1970 51.23
1971 52.02
1972 52.81
1973 53.60
1974 54.38
1975 55.17
1976 55.87
1977 56.26
1978 56.65
1979 57.04
1980 57.43
1981 57.81
1982 58.20
1983 58.53
1984 58.68
1985 58.83
1986 58.99
1987 59.14
1988 59.29
1989 59.43
1990 59.58
1991 59.72
1992 59.86
1993 60.00
1994 60.15
1995 60.29
1996 60.48
1997 60.84
1998 61.20
1999 61.56
2000 61.92
2001 62.28
2002 62.63
2003 62.99
2004 63.34
2005 63.97
2006 64.64
2007 65.31
2008 65.97
2009 66.62
2010 67.10
2011 67.57
2012 68.02
2013 68.48
2014 68.93
2015 69.38
2016 69.82
2017 70.26
2018 70.68
2019 71.10
2020 71.52

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