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Metadata Glossary

CodeSP.RUR.TOTL.ZS
Indicator NameRural population (% of total population)
Long definitionRural population refers to people living in rural areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated as the difference between total population and urban population.
SourceWorld Bank staff estimates based on the United Nations Population Division's World Urbanization Prospects: 2018 Revision.
TopicEnvironment: Density & urbanization
PeriodicityAnnual
Aggregation methodWeighted average
Limitations and exceptionsAggregation 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. 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. To estimate urban populations, UN ratios of urban to total population were applied to the World Bank's estimates of total population.
License TypeCC BY-4.0
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