Urban population growth (annual %) in Africa Eastern and Southern
Africa Eastern and Southern: Urban population growth (annual %) was 3.7% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Urban population growth in Africa Eastern and Southern, 1961–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN). Measured in annual %.
Analysis
Africa Eastern and Southern recorded 3.7% for urban population growth in 2025.
That represents a change of down 4.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban population growth in Africa Eastern and Southern peaked at 5.2% in 1987 and was at its lowest, 3.4%, in 1997.
Africa Eastern and Southern ranks 3rd of 47 groups on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 65 years of available data.
Urban population growth (annual %) in Africa Eastern and Southern, year by year
| Year | annual % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 4.2% | — |
| 1962 | 4.3% | +2.9% |
| 1963 | 4.3% | +1.1% |
| 1964 | 4.4% | +1.7% |
| 1965 | 4.5% | +2.0% |
| 1966 | 4.5% | +1.0% |
| 1967 | 4.6% | +0.7% |
| 1968 | 4.6% | +1.2% |
| 1969 | 4.7% | +1.2% |
| 1970 | 4.7% | +1.3% |
| 1971 | 4.8% | +1.6% |
| 1972 | 4.9% | +1.2% |
| 1973 | 5.0% | +2.0% |
| 1974 | 5.0% | -0.5% |
| 1975 | 4.8% | -2.5% |
| 1976 | 4.7% | -2.2% |
| 1977 | 4.6% | -3.3% |
| 1978 | 4.6% | +1.8% |
| 1979 | 4.8% | +2.2% |
| 1980 | 4.7% | -1.7% |
| 1981 | 4.6% | -0.7% |
| 1982 | 4.7% | +2.1% |
| 1983 | 4.8% | +2.4% |
| 1984 | 4.9% | +1.9% |
| 1985 | 5.1% | +2.4% |
| 1986 | 5.2% | +2.1% |
| 1987 | 5.2% | +1.5% |
| 1988 | 5.1% | -2.3% |
| 1989 | 5.0% | -3.1% |
| 1990 | 4.8% | -3.2% |
| 1991 | 4.3% | -9.8% |
| 1992 | 3.9% | -9.4% |
| 1993 | 4.0% | +1.5% |
| 1994 | 4.1% | +1.9% |
| 1995 | 3.8% | -6.2% |
| 1996 | 3.5% | -7.7% |
| 1997 | 3.4% | -1.8% |
| 1998 | 3.7% | +6.5% |
| 1999 | 3.8% | +2.2% |
| 2000 | 3.8% | +0.4% |
| 2001 | 3.9% | +2.3% |
| 2002 | 3.9% | +2.5% |
| 2003 | 4.0% | +2.3% |
| 2004 | 4.1% | +2.6% |
| 2005 | 4.1% | -0.1% |
| 2006 | 4.1% | -0.2% |
| 2007 | 3.9% | -5.8% |
| 2008 | 4.3% | +9.4% |
| 2009 | 4.0% | -7.1% |
| 2010 | 3.8% | -3.6% |
| 2011 | 3.7% | -1.8% |
| 2012 | 3.7% | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 3.9% | +3.7% |
| 2014 | 3.9% | +0.8% |
| 2015 | 3.9% | -0.3% |
| 2016 | 3.8% | -3.5% |
| 2017 | 3.8% | +0.5% |
| 2018 | 4.0% | +4.3% |
| 2019 | 3.8% | -4.1% |
| 2020 | 3.8% | -0.3% |
| 2021 | 3.8% | +0.5% |
| 2022 | 3.8% | +0.4% |
| 2023 | 3.6% | -5.1% |
| 2024 | 3.7% | +2.5% |
| 2025 | 3.7% | +0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 4.5% | 4.2% | 4.7% | 9 |
| 1970s | 4.8% | 4.6% | 5.0% | 10 |
| 1980s | 4.9% | 4.6% | 5.2% | 10 |
| 1990s | 3.9% | 3.4% | 4.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.0% | 3.8% | 4.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.8% | 3.7% | 4.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.7% | 3.6% | 3.8% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Africa Eastern and Southern
More climate change data for Africa Eastern and Southern
- Urban population, annual growth rate 3.78 % change on previous year (2025)
- Urban population, per unit of GDP 0.0002 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Urban population, per capita 0.387 units per person (2025)
- Urban population 305.30 million (2025)
- Population, total 788.84 million (2025)
- Population growth 2.5% (2025)
- Population, total, per unit of GDP 0.0006 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population, total, annual growth rate 2.54 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population, total, per square kilometre 50.51 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Urban population, per square kilometre 19.08 units per square kilometre (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is urban population growth in Africa Eastern and Southern?
- Urban population growth in Africa Eastern and Southern was 3.7% in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest urban population growth recorded in Africa Eastern and Southern?
- The highest recorded value was 5.2% in 1987.
- What is the lowest urban population growth recorded in Africa Eastern and Southern?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.4% in 1997.
- How does Africa Eastern and Southern rank for urban population growth?
- Africa Eastern and Southern ranks 3rd out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is urban population growth rising or falling in Africa Eastern and Southern?
- Over the last ten years it is down 4.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Africa Eastern and Southern data come from?
- The figures come from World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN), published as part of Urban population growth (annual %). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Annual urban population growth rate for year t is the exponential rate of growth of midyear urban population from year t-1 to t, expressed as a percentage. Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated using World Bank total population estimates and urban ratios from the United Nations World Urbanization Prospects.