Urban population share — all countries

Urban population share — Middle Africa

Urban population share in Middle Africa in 2025 — 50.9%. Since 1960, the indicator has risen by 33.2 pp.

2025 50.9% +0.4 pp vs 2024
World rank
Period maximum 50.9%2025
Period minimum 17.7%1960

Trend over time

1960–2025 · % of population

Urban population share — Middle Africa, 1960–2025020406019601967197419811988199520022009201620231960: 17.7%1962: 18.3%1964: 19%1966: 19.8%1968: 20.7%1970: 21.7%1972: 22.9%1974: 24.3%1976: 25.7%1978: 26.9%1980: 28.2%1982: 29.3%1984: 30.5%1986: 31.6%1988: 32.8%1990: 33.9%1992: 35.1%1994: 36.1%1996: 37.2%1998: 38.4%2000: 39.5%2002: 40.6%2004: 41.7%2006: 42.7%2008: 43.6%2010: 44.5%2012: 45.4%2014: 46.2%2016: 47.1%2018: 48%2020: 48.9%2022: 49.7%2024: 50.5%2025: 50.9%
Change over the period: +33.2 pp Annual average: 0.51 pp

Comparison, 2025

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

Middle Africa 50.9%
World 57.8%
Urban population share — Middle Africa, by year Middle Africa All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 50.9 +0.4 pp
2024 50.5 +0.4 pp
2023 50.1 +0.4 pp
2022 49.7 +0.4 pp
2021 49.3 +0.4 pp
2020 48.9 +0.4 pp
2019 48.4 +0.4 pp
2018 48 +0.4 pp
2017 47.5 +0.4 pp
2016 47.1 +0.4 pp
2015 46.7 +0.5 pp
2014 46.2 +0.4 pp
2013 45.8 +0.4 pp
2012 45.4 +0.4 pp
2011 44.9 +0.4 pp
2010 44.5 +0.5 pp
2009 44 +0.5 pp
2008 43.6 +0.4 pp
2007 43.1 +0.5 pp
2006 42.7 +0.5 pp
2005 42.2 +0.5 pp
2004 41.7 +0.5 pp
2003 41.2 +0.5 pp
2002 40.6 +0.6 pp
2001 40.1 +0.6 pp
2000 39.5 +0.6 pp
1999 38.9 +0.6 pp
1998 38.4 +0.6 pp
1997 37.8 +0.6 pp
1996 37.2 +0.6 pp
1995 36.7 +0.5 pp
1994 36.1 +0.5 pp
1993 35.6 +0.6 pp
1992 35.1 +0.6 pp
1991 34.5 +0.6 pp
1990 33.9 +0.6 pp
1989 33.4 +0.6 pp
1988 32.8 +0.6 pp
1987 32.2 +0.6 pp
1986 31.6 +0.6 pp
1985 31.1 +0.6 pp
1984 30.5 +0.6 pp
1983 29.9 +0.6 pp
1982 29.3 +0.6 pp
1981 28.8 +0.6 pp
1980 28.2 +0.6 pp
1979 27.5 +0.6 pp
1978 26.9 +0.6 pp
1977 26.3 +0.6 pp
1976 25.7 +0.7 pp
1975 25 +0.7 pp
1974 24.3 +0.7 pp
1973 23.6 +0.7 pp
1972 22.9 +0.6 pp
1971 22.3 +0.6 pp
1970 21.7 +0.5 pp
1969 21.2 +0.5 pp
1968 20.7 +0.5 pp
1967 20.3 +0.5 pp
1966 19.8 +0.4 pp
1965 19.4 +0.4 pp
1964 19 +0.4 pp
1963 18.6 +0.3 pp
1962 18.3 +0.3 pp
1961 18 +0.3 pp
1960 17.7

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.