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What's New
Quarterly External Debt Statistics GDDS was updated on April 30, 2024
Quarterly External Debt Statistics SDDS was updated on April 30, 2024
Quarterly Public Sector Debt was updated on April 26, 2024
World Development Indicators was updated on March 28, 2024
Metadata Glossary
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Filtered Results: 10
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Code
SP.URB.TOTL
Indicator Name
Urban population
Long definition
Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated using World Bank population estimates and urban ratios from the United Nations World Urbanization Prospects. Aggregation of urban and rural population may not add up to total population because of different country coverages.
Source
World Bank staff estimates based on the United Nations Population Division's World Urbanization Prospects: 2018 Revision.
Topic
Environment: Density & urbanization
Periodicity
Annual
Aggregation method
Sum
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.
License Type
CC BY-4.0
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