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Technical notes335Urban population: This is the midyear population of areasdefined as urban in each country and reported to the UnitedNations. Estimates of the world’s urban population wouldchange significantly if China, India, and a few other populousnations were to change their definition of urban centers.According to China’s State Statistical Bureau, by the end of1996 urban residents accounted for about 43 percent ofChina’s population, while in 1994 only 20 percent of thepopulation was considered urban. In addition to the continuousmigration of people from rural to urban areas, one of themain reasons for this shift was the rapid growth in thehundreds of towns reclassified as cities in recent years.Because the estimates in the table are based on nationaldefinitions of what constitutes a city or metropolitan area,cross-country comparisons should be made with caution.Voice and accountability: The extent to which a country’scitizens are able to participate in selecting their government,as well as freedom of expression, freedom of association, anda free media.Wastewater treated: Percentage of all wastewater undergoingsome form of treatment.Water consumption: Average consumption of water inlitres per day per person for all domestic uses (excludesindustrial use) in settlements.Water supply system: ‘Housing units with piped waterinside the housing unit’ refers to the existence of waterpipes within the walls that constitute a housing unit. Watercan be piped from a community source – that is, one that issubject to inspection and control by public authorities.Water can also be piped into the unit from a private source,such as a pressure tank, a pump or some other installation.The category ‘piped water outside unit, but within 200metres’ refers to units where the piped water is not availableto occupants within the unit they reside in, but is accessiblewithin the range of 200 metres, assuming that access topiped water within that distance allows occupants to providewater for household needs without being subjected toextreme effort. ‘Other’ refers to units that do not haveaccess to piped water at all, whose occupants depend uponsprings or wells, or to units where piped water is locatedbeyond 200 metres.NOTES1. Including 37 UN membersand 14 non-UNmembers/associatemembers of regionalcommissions.2. All members of the UnitedNations General Assemblyarranged in RegionalGroups. According to theUnited Nations Handbook2003 (2003), this grouping isunofficial and has beendeveloped to take accountof the purposes of GeneralAssembly Resolutions 1991(XVIII) (1963), 33/138(1978) and 2847 (XXVI)(1971). The US is not amember of any regionalgroup, but attends meetingsof the Western Europeanand Other States Group(WEOG) as an observer andis considered to be amember of that group forelectoral purposes. Turkeyparticipates fully in both theAsian and WEOG groups,but for electoral purposes isconsidered a member ofWEOG only. Israel became afull member of WEOG on atemporary basis on 28 May2000. As of 31 May 2002,Estonia and Kiribati werenot members of any regionalgroup. In addition tomember states, there is alsoa non-member state, theHoly See, which hasobserver status in theUnited Nations. By GeneralAssembly Resolution 52/250(1998), the GeneralAssembly conferred uponPalestine, in its capacity asobserver, additional rightsand privileges of participation.These included, interalia, the right to participationin the general debate ofthe General Assembly, butdid not include the right tovote or to put forwardcandidates.3. As classified by the UnitedNations DevelopmentProgramme (UNDP); seeHuman Development Report2005 for detail.4. 57 countries or areas.5. 88 countries or areas.6. 32 countries or areas.7. As classified by the WorldBank; see World DevelopmentReport 2006 (World Bank,2005) for detail.8. Bottled water is consideredimproved only when thehousehold uses water froman improved source forcooking and personalhygiene.9. Excreta are flushed to plot,open sewer, a ditch, or otherlocation.