Rural population share — all countries

Rural population share — Western Africa

Rural population share in Western Africa in 2025 — 45.8%. Since 1960, the indicator has fallen by 40.4 pp.

2025 45.8% −0.6 pp vs 2024
World rank
Period maximum 86.2%1960
Period minimum 45.8%2025

Trend over time

1960–2025 · % of population

Rural population share — Western Africa, 1960–202540608010019601967197419811988199520022009201620231960: 86.2%1962: 85.1%1964: 83.9%1966: 82.6%1968: 81.4%1970: 80.1%1972: 78.8%1974: 77.5%1976: 76.2%1978: 74.9%1980: 73.6%1982: 72.4%1984: 71.1%1986: 69.9%1988: 68.7%1990: 67.5%1992: 66.2%1994: 65.1%1996: 63.9%1998: 62.7%2000: 61.4%2002: 60.2%2004: 58.9%2006: 57.6%2008: 56.4%2010: 55.2%2012: 54%2014: 52.7%2016: 51.5%2018: 50.3%2020: 49.1%2022: 47.8%2024: 46.5%2025: 45.8%
Change over the period: −40.4 pp Annual average: -0.62 pp

Comparison, 2025

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Western Africa

Western Africa 45.8%
World 42.2%
Rural population share — Western Africa, by year Western Africa All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 45.8 −0.6 pp
2024 46.5 −0.6 pp
2023 47.1 −0.7 pp
2022 47.8 −0.7 pp
2021 48.4 −0.6 pp
2020 49.1 −0.6 pp
2019 49.7 −0.6 pp
2018 50.3 −0.6 pp
2017 50.9 −0.6 pp
2016 51.5 −0.6 pp
2015 52.1 −0.6 pp
2014 52.7 −0.6 pp
2013 53.3 −0.6 pp
2012 54 −0.6 pp
2011 54.6 −0.6 pp
2010 55.2 −0.6 pp
2009 55.8 −0.6 pp
2008 56.4 −0.6 pp
2007 57 −0.6 pp
2006 57.6 −0.6 pp
2005 58.2 −0.6 pp
2004 58.9 −0.6 pp
2003 59.5 −0.6 pp
2002 60.2 −0.6 pp
2001 60.8 −0.6 pp
2000 61.4 −0.6 pp
1999 62.1 −0.6 pp
1998 62.7 −0.6 pp
1997 63.3 −0.6 pp
1996 63.9 −0.6 pp
1995 64.5 −0.6 pp
1994 65.1 −0.5 pp
1993 65.6 −0.6 pp
1992 66.2 −0.6 pp
1991 66.8 −0.7 pp
1990 67.5 −0.6 pp
1989 68.1 −0.6 pp
1988 68.7 −0.6 pp
1987 69.3 −0.7 pp
1986 69.9 −0.6 pp
1985 70.5 −0.6 pp
1984 71.1 −0.6 pp
1983 71.7 −0.6 pp
1982 72.4 −0.6 pp
1981 73 −0.6 pp
1980 73.6 −0.6 pp
1979 74.3 −0.6 pp
1978 74.9 −0.7 pp
1977 75.5 −0.7 pp
1976 76.2 −0.7 pp
1975 76.9 −0.6 pp
1974 77.5 −0.6 pp
1973 78.2 −0.6 pp
1972 78.8 −0.6 pp
1971 79.5 −0.6 pp
1970 80.1 −0.6 pp
1969 80.7 −0.6 pp
1968 81.4 −0.6 pp
1967 82 −0.6 pp
1966 82.6 −0.6 pp
1965 83.3 −0.6 pp
1964 83.9 −0.6 pp
1963 84.5 −0.6 pp
1962 85.1 −0.6 pp
1961 85.7 −0.5 pp
1960 86.2

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.