Urban population share — all countries

Urban population share — Northern Africa

Urban population share in Northern Africa in 2025 — 52.4%. Since 1960, the indicator has risen by 21 pp.

2025 52.4% +0.2 pp vs 2024
World rank
Period maximum 52.4%2025
Period minimum 31.4%1960

Trend over time

1960–2025 · % of population

Urban population share — Northern Africa, 1960–20253040506019601967197419811988199520022009201620231960: 31.4%1962: 32.8%1964: 34.1%1966: 35.2%1968: 36.2%1970: 37.2%1972: 38.2%1974: 38.9%1976: 39.5%1978: 40.1%1980: 40.7%1982: 41.5%1984: 42.4%1986: 43.6%1988: 44.8%1990: 45.8%1992: 46.6%1994: 47.1%1996: 47.5%1998: 48%2000: 48.4%2002: 48.8%2004: 49.2%2006: 49.6%2008: 50%2010: 50.3%2012: 50.6%2014: 51%2016: 51.2%2018: 51.4%2020: 51.6%2022: 51.9%2024: 52.2%2025: 52.4%
Change over the period: +21 pp Annual average: 0.32 pp

Comparison, 2025

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

Northern Africa 52.4%
World 57.8%
Urban population share — Northern Africa, by year Northern Africa All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 52.4 +0.2 pp
2024 52.2 +0.2 pp
2023 52 +0.2 pp
2022 51.9 +0.1 pp
2021 51.7 +0.1 pp
2020 51.6 +0.1 pp
2019 51.5 +0.1 pp
2018 51.4 +0.1 pp
2017 51.2 +0.1 pp
2016 51.2 +0.1 pp
2015 51.1 +0.1 pp
2014 51 +0.2 pp
2013 50.8 +0.2 pp
2012 50.6 +0.1 pp
2011 50.5 +0.2 pp
2010 50.3 +0.2 pp
2009 50.1 +0.2 pp
2008 50 +0.2 pp
2007 49.8 +0.2 pp
2006 49.6 +0.2 pp
2005 49.4 +0.2 pp
2004 49.2 +0.2 pp
2003 49 +0.2 pp
2002 48.8 +0.2 pp
2001 48.6 +0.2 pp
2000 48.4 +0.2 pp
1999 48.2 +0.2 pp
1998 48 +0.2 pp
1997 47.8 +0.2 pp
1996 47.5 +0.2 pp
1995 47.3 +0.2 pp
1994 47.1 +0.2 pp
1993 46.9 +0.3 pp
1992 46.6 +0.3 pp
1991 46.2 +0.4 pp
1990 45.8 +0.5 pp
1989 45.3 +0.5 pp
1988 44.8 +0.6 pp
1987 44.2 +0.6 pp
1986 43.6 +0.6 pp
1985 43 +0.6 pp
1984 42.4 +0.5 pp
1983 41.9 +0.4 pp
1982 41.5 +0.4 pp
1981 41.1 +0.4 pp
1980 40.7 +0.3 pp
1979 40.4 +0.3 pp
1978 40.1 +0.3 pp
1977 39.8 +0.3 pp
1976 39.5 +0.3 pp
1975 39.2 +0.3 pp
1974 38.9 +0.3 pp
1973 38.5 +0.4 pp
1972 38.2 +0.5 pp
1971 37.7 +0.5 pp
1970 37.2 +0.5 pp
1969 36.7 +0.5 pp
1968 36.2 +0.5 pp
1967 35.7 +0.5 pp
1966 35.2 +0.5 pp
1965 34.7 +0.6 pp
1964 34.1 +0.7 pp
1963 33.5 +0.7 pp
1962 32.8 +0.7 pp
1961 32 +0.7 pp
1960 31.4

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.