| Code | SP.URB.GROW |
| Indicator Name | Urban population growth (annual %) |
| Long definition | Annual urban population growth rate for year t is the exponential rate of growth of midyear urban population from year t-1 to t, expressed as a percentage. Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated using World Bank total population estimates and urban ratios from the United Nations World Urbanization Prospects. |
| Source | World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN), uri: https://population.un.org/wup/, note: World Bank staff estimates based on the United Nations Population Division's World Urbanization Prospects, National definitions, publisher: UN Population Division;
Staff estimates, World Bank (WB), note: World Bank staff estimates based on the United Nations Population Division's World Urbanization Prospects, National definitions |
| Topic | Environment: Density & urbanization |
| Dataset | WB_WDI |
| Unit of measure | Percentage |
| Periodicity | Annual |
| Reference period | 1961-2024 |
| Aggregation method | Weighted average |
| Statistical concept and methodology | Methodology: The indicator is calculated from urban population estimates. The urban population estimates are calulcated using World Bank's total population estimates and urban ratios from the United Nations World Urbanization Prospects.
The growth rate is computed using the exponential growth formula:
r = ln(pn/p0)/n,
where r is the exponential rate of growth, ln() is the natural logarithm, pn is the end period population, p0 is the beginning period population, and n is the number of years in between. Note that this is not the geometric growth rate used to compute compound growth over discrete periods.
Statistical concept(s): Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. 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. |
| 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 | 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 URL | https://datacatalog.worldbank.org/public-licenses#cc-by |
| License Type | CC BY-4.0 |
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