What is urban classification?

Urban classification is a process of organizing and grouping urban areas based on their characteristics, such as population size, density, economic activities, and land use patterns. Urban classification systems can be used for various purposes, including urban planning, policymaking, and research.

There are several different urban classification systems, each with its objectives and criteria. Some of the most commonly used urban classification systems include:

The United Nations (UN) Urban Agglomeration Definition: The UN defines an urban agglomeration as a cluster of contiguous inhabited places with a combined population of at least 50,000 people. Urban agglomerations are further classified into small (50,000 to 1 million people), medium (1 million to 5 million people), and large (more than 5 million people).

The World Bank's Urban Population Definition: The World Bank defines an urban population as the population living in settlements of more than 1,000 people. This definition excludes rural areas and isolated small settlements.

The European Union's (EU) Urban Functional Area (UFA) Definition: The EU defines a UFA as a continuous urban area with a population density of at least 1,500 people per square kilometer. UFAs are classified into three categories based on their population size: small (50,000 to 200,000 people), medium (200,000 to 1 million people), and large (more than 1 million people).

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Urban Area Definition: The OECD defines an urban area as a continuous built-up area with a population density of at least 1,500 people per square kilometer. Urban areas are classified into three categories based on their population size: small (50,000 to 100,000 people), medium (100,000 to 500,000 people), and large (more than 500,000 people).

These are just a few examples of urban classification systems. Each system has its strengths and weaknesses, and the choice of the appropriate system depends on the specific purpose for which urban classification is being carried out.