Urban population share — all countries

Urban population share — Western Africa

Urban population share in Western Africa in 2025 — 54.2%. Since 1960, the indicator has risen by 40.4 pp.

2025 54.2% +0.6 pp vs 2024
World rank
Period maximum 54.2%2025
Period minimum 13.8%1960

Trend over time

1960–2025 · % of population

Urban population share — Western Africa, 1960–2025020406019601967197419811988199520022009201620231960: 13.8%1962: 14.9%1964: 16.1%1966: 17.4%1968: 18.6%1970: 19.9%1972: 21.2%1974: 22.5%1976: 23.8%1978: 25.1%1980: 26.4%1982: 27.6%1984: 28.9%1986: 30.1%1988: 31.3%1990: 32.5%1992: 33.8%1994: 34.9%1996: 36.1%1998: 37.3%2000: 38.6%2002: 39.8%2004: 41.1%2006: 42.4%2008: 43.6%2010: 44.8%2012: 46%2014: 47.3%2016: 48.5%2018: 49.7%2020: 50.9%2022: 52.2%2024: 53.5%2025: 54.2%
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 54.2%
World 57.8%
Urban population share — Western Africa, by year Western Africa All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 54.2 +0.6 pp
2024 53.5 +0.6 pp
2023 52.9 +0.7 pp
2022 52.2 +0.7 pp
2021 51.6 +0.6 pp
2020 50.9 +0.6 pp
2019 50.3 +0.6 pp
2018 49.7 +0.6 pp
2017 49.1 +0.6 pp
2016 48.5 +0.6 pp
2015 47.9 +0.6 pp
2014 47.3 +0.6 pp
2013 46.7 +0.6 pp
2012 46 +0.6 pp
2011 45.4 +0.6 pp
2010 44.8 +0.6 pp
2009 44.2 +0.6 pp
2008 43.6 +0.6 pp
2007 43 +0.6 pp
2006 42.4 +0.6 pp
2005 41.8 +0.6 pp
2004 41.1 +0.6 pp
2003 40.5 +0.6 pp
2002 39.8 +0.6 pp
2001 39.2 +0.6 pp
2000 38.6 +0.6 pp
1999 37.9 +0.6 pp
1998 37.3 +0.6 pp
1997 36.7 +0.6 pp
1996 36.1 +0.6 pp
1995 35.5 +0.6 pp
1994 34.9 +0.5 pp
1993 34.4 +0.6 pp
1992 33.8 +0.6 pp
1991 33.2 +0.7 pp
1990 32.5 +0.6 pp
1989 31.9 +0.6 pp
1988 31.3 +0.6 pp
1987 30.7 +0.7 pp
1986 30.1 +0.6 pp
1985 29.5 +0.6 pp
1984 28.9 +0.6 pp
1983 28.3 +0.6 pp
1982 27.6 +0.6 pp
1981 27 +0.6 pp
1980 26.4 +0.6 pp
1979 25.7 +0.6 pp
1978 25.1 +0.7 pp
1977 24.5 +0.7 pp
1976 23.8 +0.7 pp
1975 23.1 +0.6 pp
1974 22.5 +0.6 pp
1973 21.8 +0.6 pp
1972 21.2 +0.6 pp
1971 20.5 +0.6 pp
1970 19.9 +0.6 pp
1969 19.3 +0.6 pp
1968 18.6 +0.6 pp
1967 18 +0.6 pp
1966 17.4 +0.6 pp
1965 16.7 +0.6 pp
1964 16.1 +0.6 pp
1963 15.5 +0.6 pp
1962 14.9 +0.6 pp
1961 14.3 +0.5 pp
1960 13.8

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.