Sri Lanka - Urban population (% of total population)

Urban population (% of total population) in Sri Lanka was 18.71 as of 2020. Its highest value over the past 60 years was 18.71 in 2020, while its lowest value was 16.43 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 16.43
1961 16.59
1962 16.75
1963 16.92
1964 17.01
1965 17.11
1966 17.21
1967 17.30
1968 17.40
1969 17.50
1970 17.60
1971 17.70
1972 17.80
1973 17.90
1974 18.00
1975 18.10
1976 18.20
1977 18.30
1978 18.40
1979 18.50
1980 18.61
1981 18.68
1982 18.66
1983 18.64
1984 18.63
1985 18.61
1986 18.60
1987 18.58
1988 18.57
1989 18.55
1990 18.54
1991 18.52
1992 18.50
1993 18.49
1994 18.47
1995 18.46
1996 18.44
1997 18.43
1998 18.41
1999 18.40
2000 18.38
2001 18.37
2002 18.35
2003 18.33
2004 18.32
2005 18.30
2006 18.29
2007 18.27
2008 18.26
2009 18.24
2010 18.23
2011 18.21
2012 18.20
2013 18.20
2014 18.22
2015 18.26
2016 18.31
2017 18.38
2018 18.48
2019 18.59
2020 18.71

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