Palau - Urban population (% of total population)

Urban population (% of total population) in Palau was 80.99 as of 2020. Its highest value over the past 60 years was 80.99 in 2020, while its lowest value was 56.82 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 56.82
1961 57.11
1962 57.41
1963 57.70
1964 57.99
1965 58.28
1966 58.57
1967 58.85
1968 59.14
1969 59.43
1970 59.72
1971 60.00
1972 60.29
1973 60.57
1974 60.86
1975 61.14
1976 61.42
1977 61.70
1978 61.98
1979 62.26
1980 62.54
1981 63.41
1982 64.42
1983 65.42
1984 66.41
1985 67.38
1986 68.19
1987 68.54
1988 68.89
1989 69.24
1990 69.59
1991 69.97
1992 70.34
1993 70.70
1994 71.07
1995 71.43
1996 71.31
1997 71.07
1998 70.83
1999 70.58
2000 70.34
2001 70.09
2002 69.85
2003 69.60
2004 70.38
2005 71.15
2006 71.91
2007 72.66
2008 73.39
2009 74.11
2010 74.82
2011 75.51
2012 76.19
2013 76.86
2014 77.52
2015 78.16
2016 78.78
2017 79.37
2018 79.93
2019 80.47
2020 80.99

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