Urban and rural population during years 1950-2050

Data on population living in urban and rural areas falls into the category of indicators Rural and/or Urban Development. Generally, the more developed countries tend to have a higher number of urban population than rural population. This facilitates access to basic services such as water resources, health care or education services. As a result one cas say that the higher the ratio of urban population to rural population, the higher the standard of living in a given country.
Numbers show a global tendency of the migration of people towards ruban areas, and this trend applies to our country as well.


^{Source: United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2010). World Urbanization Prospects : The 2009 Revision.
Comments and analysis: Open Data Albania (ODA)}

Years 1950-1990 are characterized by a relatively high population growth, in average of 13%. This increase was also reflected in the standard of living in urban and rural areas. Still the pace of growth in urban areas was constantly higher than in rural areas.


^{Source: United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2010). World Urbanization Prospects : The 2009 Revision.
Comments and analysis: Open Data Albania (ODA)}

Years 1990-1995 marked important developments. During this time total population decreased by about 4.73% compared to previous years, primarily as a result of two main factors: emmigration and lower rate of births. At the same time, the population in rural areas fell for the first time, by 8.45%, whereas the population in rural areas grew by only 1.76%. At this time people were free to choose to live in the cities or villages, and their movement was not controlled anymore by the state. The opportunity for a more comfortable life and even more importantly better employment opportunities caused the rural population to fall even further, and the urban population to grow further.

Even future projections show a continuation of the migration from rural to urban areas. Starting with 2010, the population structure will be balanced 50% vs 50%. In 2020, the ratio of urban to rural population is projected to reach 60% to 40% and after year 2035 the urban population will reach 70%.

^{Source: United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2010). World Urbanization Prospects : The 2009 Revision.
Comments and analysis: Open Data Albania (ODA)}

All the data is presented in the table below:

^{Source: United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2010). World Urbanization Prospects : The 2009 Revision.
Comments and analysis: Open Data Albania (ODA)}