Urban population share — all countries

Urban population share — Sub-Saharan Africa

Urban population share in Sub-Saharan Africa in 2025 — 44.7%. Since 1960, the indicator has risen by 30.3 pp.

2025 44.7% +0.5 pp vs 2024
World rank
Period maximum 44.7%2025
Period minimum 14.3%1960

Trend over time

1960–2025 · % of population

Urban population share — Sub-Saharan Africa, 1960–2025020406019601967197419811988199520022009201620231960: 14.3%1962: 15.1%1964: 15.9%1966: 16.7%1968: 17.6%1970: 18.5%1972: 19.5%1974: 20.5%1976: 21.5%1978: 22.4%1980: 23.4%1982: 24.2%1984: 25.2%1986: 26.2%1988: 27.4%1990: 28.4%1992: 29.4%1994: 30.2%1996: 31%1998: 31.8%2000: 32.7%2002: 33.6%2004: 34.6%2006: 35.6%2008: 36.6%2010: 37.5%2012: 38.4%2014: 39.4%2016: 40.3%2018: 41.3%2020: 42.2%2022: 43.2%2024: 44.1%2025: 44.7%
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 44.7%
World 57.8%
Urban population share — Sub-Saharan Africa, by year Sub-Saharan Africa All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 44.7 +0.5 pp
2024 44.1 +0.5 pp
2023 43.6 +0.5 pp
2022 43.2 +0.5 pp
2021 42.6 +0.5 pp
2020 42.2 +0.5 pp
2019 41.7 +0.5 pp
2018 41.3 +0.5 pp
2017 40.8 +0.5 pp
2016 40.3 +0.5 pp
2015 39.8 +0.5 pp
2014 39.4 +0.5 pp
2013 38.9 +0.5 pp
2012 38.4 +0.4 pp
2011 38 +0.4 pp
2010 37.5 +0.4 pp
2009 37.1 +0.5 pp
2008 36.6 +0.5 pp
2007 36.1 +0.5 pp
2006 35.6 +0.5 pp
2005 35.1 +0.5 pp
2004 34.6 +0.5 pp
2003 34.1 +0.5 pp
2002 33.6 +0.5 pp
2001 33.1 +0.5 pp
2000 32.7 +0.4 pp
1999 32.2 +0.4 pp
1998 31.8 +0.4 pp
1997 31.4 +0.4 pp
1996 31 +0.4 pp
1995 30.6 +0.4 pp
1994 30.2 +0.4 pp
1993 29.8 +0.4 pp
1992 29.4 +0.4 pp
1991 28.9 +0.5 pp
1990 28.4 +0.5 pp
1989 27.9 +0.5 pp
1988 27.4 +0.6 pp
1987 26.8 +0.6 pp
1986 26.2 +0.5 pp
1985 25.7 +0.5 pp
1984 25.2 +0.5 pp
1983 24.7 +0.5 pp
1982 24.2 +0.4 pp
1981 23.8 +0.5 pp
1980 23.4 +0.5 pp
1979 22.9 +0.5 pp
1978 22.4 +0.5 pp
1977 22 +0.5 pp
1976 21.5 +0.5 pp
1975 21 +0.5 pp
1974 20.5 +0.5 pp
1973 20 +0.5 pp
1972 19.5 +0.5 pp
1971 19 +0.5 pp
1970 18.5 +0.5 pp
1969 18 +0.4 pp
1968 17.6 +0.4 pp
1967 17.1 +0.4 pp
1966 16.7 +0.4 pp
1965 16.3 +0.4 pp
1964 15.9 +0.4 pp
1963 15.5 +0.4 pp
1962 15.1 +0.4 pp
1961 14.7 +0.4 pp
1960 14.3

About the indicator

The share of population living in urban settlements, as a percent of the total. One caveat is central: each country sets the criteria for a city itself — in some places it is a settlement of 2,000 residents or more, in others 20,000, in others administrative status. Cross-country comparisons of urbanization are therefore always approximate, while the trend within a single country is informative.

Important: Sharp jumps in individual years are usually explained not by people moving but by changes in the administrative boundaries of cities.

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