Rural population share — all countries

Rural population share — Sub-Saharan Africa

Rural population share in Sub-Saharan Africa in 2025 — 55.3%. Since 1960, the indicator has fallen by 30.3 pp.

2025 55.3% −0.5 pp vs 2024
World rank
Period maximum 85.7%1960
Period minimum 55.3%2025

Trend over time

1960–2025 · % of population

Rural population share — Sub-Saharan Africa, 1960–2025506070809019601967197419811988199520022009201620231960: 85.7%1962: 84.9%1964: 84.1%1966: 83.3%1968: 82.4%1970: 81.5%1972: 80.5%1974: 79.5%1976: 78.5%1978: 77.6%1980: 76.6%1982: 75.8%1984: 74.8%1986: 73.8%1988: 72.6%1990: 71.6%1992: 70.6%1994: 69.8%1996: 69%1998: 68.2%2000: 67.3%2002: 66.4%2004: 65.4%2006: 64.4%2008: 63.4%2010: 62.5%2012: 61.6%2014: 60.6%2016: 59.7%2018: 58.7%2020: 57.8%2022: 56.8%2024: 55.9%2025: 55.3%
Change over the period: −30.3 pp Annual average: -0.47 pp

Comparison, 2025

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Sub-Saharan Africa

Sub-Saharan Africa 55.3%
World 42.2%
Rural population share — Sub-Saharan Africa, by year Sub-Saharan Africa All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 55.3 −0.5 pp
2024 55.9 −0.5 pp
2023 56.4 −0.5 pp
2022 56.8 −0.5 pp
2021 57.4 −0.5 pp
2020 57.8 −0.5 pp
2019 58.3 −0.5 pp
2018 58.7 −0.5 pp
2017 59.2 −0.5 pp
2016 59.7 −0.5 pp
2015 60.2 −0.5 pp
2014 60.6 −0.5 pp
2013 61.1 −0.5 pp
2012 61.6 −0.4 pp
2011 62 −0.4 pp
2010 62.5 −0.4 pp
2009 62.9 −0.5 pp
2008 63.4 −0.5 pp
2007 63.9 −0.5 pp
2006 64.4 −0.5 pp
2005 64.9 −0.5 pp
2004 65.4 −0.5 pp
2003 65.9 −0.5 pp
2002 66.4 −0.5 pp
2001 66.9 −0.5 pp
2000 67.3 −0.4 pp
1999 67.8 −0.4 pp
1998 68.2 −0.4 pp
1997 68.6 −0.4 pp
1996 69 −0.4 pp
1995 69.4 −0.4 pp
1994 69.8 −0.4 pp
1993 70.2 −0.4 pp
1992 70.6 −0.4 pp
1991 71.1 −0.5 pp
1990 71.6 −0.5 pp
1989 72.1 −0.5 pp
1988 72.6 −0.6 pp
1987 73.2 −0.6 pp
1986 73.8 −0.5 pp
1985 74.3 −0.5 pp
1984 74.8 −0.5 pp
1983 75.3 −0.5 pp
1982 75.8 −0.4 pp
1981 76.2 −0.5 pp
1980 76.6 −0.5 pp
1979 77.1 −0.5 pp
1978 77.6 −0.5 pp
1977 78 −0.5 pp
1976 78.5 −0.5 pp
1975 79 −0.5 pp
1974 79.5 −0.5 pp
1973 80 −0.5 pp
1972 80.5 −0.5 pp
1971 81 −0.5 pp
1970 81.5 −0.5 pp
1969 82 −0.4 pp
1968 82.4 −0.4 pp
1967 82.9 −0.4 pp
1966 83.3 −0.4 pp
1965 83.7 −0.4 pp
1964 84.1 −0.4 pp
1963 84.5 −0.4 pp
1962 84.9 −0.4 pp
1961 85.3 −0.4 pp
1960 85.7

About the indicator

The share of population living outside urban settlements, as a percent of the total. It is computed as the difference between total and urban population, and therefore inherits every particularity of national definitions of urban areas.

Source: World Population Prospects (UN), license CC BY 3.0 IGO.