Urban population growth (annual %) in Africa Western and Central
Africa Western and Central: Urban population growth (annual %) was 3.4% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Urban population growth in Africa Western and Central, 1961–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN). Measured in annual %.
Analysis
Africa Western and Central recorded 3.4% for urban population growth in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 65 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.8% on the previous year and down 12.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban population growth in Africa Western and Central peaked at 6.0% in 1965 and was at its lowest, 3.4%, in 2025.
That places Africa Western and Central 10th out of 47 groups with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 65 years of available data.
Urban population growth (annual %) in Africa Western and Central, year by year
| Year | annual % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 5.8% | — |
| 1962 | 5.9% | +1.3% |
| 1963 | 5.9% | +1.2% |
| 1964 | 5.9% | +0.3% |
| 1965 | 6.0% | +0.6% |
| 1966 | 6.0% | -0.2% |
| 1967 | 5.9% | -1.0% |
| 1968 | 5.8% | -1.0% |
| 1969 | 5.8% | -0.5% |
| 1970 | 5.8% | -0.9% |
| 1971 | 5.7% | -1.0% |
| 1972 | 5.7% | +0.3% |
| 1973 | 5.8% | +0.8% |
| 1974 | 5.8% | +0.2% |
| 1975 | 5.7% | -0.6% |
| 1976 | 5.7% | -1.2% |
| 1977 | 5.6% | -1.1% |
| 1978 | 5.5% | -2.4% |
| 1979 | 5.3% | -2.9% |
| 1980 | 5.3% | -1.0% |
| 1981 | 5.2% | -0.8% |
| 1982 | 5.1% | -1.4% |
| 1983 | 4.9% | -5.3% |
| 1984 | 4.7% | -2.8% |
| 1985 | 4.8% | +1.0% |
| 1986 | 4.6% | -3.9% |
| 1987 | 4.8% | +4.6% |
| 1988 | 4.6% | -3.7% |
| 1989 | 4.6% | -0.6% |
| 1990 | 4.4% | -3.8% |
| 1991 | 4.7% | +6.2% |
| 1992 | 4.4% | -6.5% |
| 1993 | 4.3% | -2.9% |
| 1994 | 4.2% | -2.4% |
| 1995 | 4.2% | +1.2% |
| 1996 | 4.3% | +0.9% |
| 1997 | 4.3% | +1.2% |
| 1998 | 4.3% | +0.7% |
| 1999 | 4.3% | -1.3% |
| 2000 | 4.3% | +0.2% |
| 2001 | 4.3% | +1.1% |
| 2002 | 4.3% | -0.5% |
| 2003 | 4.3% | -0.5% |
| 2004 | 4.3% | -0.2% |
| 2005 | 4.3% | -0.1% |
| 2006 | 4.3% | -0.4% |
| 2007 | 4.2% | -2.2% |
| 2008 | 4.1% | -0.6% |
| 2009 | 4.1% | -1.0% |
| 2010 | 4.1% | -0.3% |
| 2011 | 4.1% | +0.2% |
| 2012 | 4.0% | -1.4% |
| 2013 | 4.0% | -1.7% |
| 2014 | 4.0% | -0.3% |
| 2015 | 3.9% | -1.0% |
| 2016 | 3.9% | -1.5% |
| 2017 | 3.8% | -1.5% |
| 2018 | 3.7% | -2.9% |
| 2019 | 3.6% | -2.7% |
| 2020 | 3.6% | -1.0% |
| 2021 | 3.5% | -0.7% |
| 2022 | 3.5% | -0.6% |
| 2023 | 3.5% | +0.8% |
| 2024 | 3.5% | -1.2% |
| 2025 | 3.4% | -1.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 5.9% | 5.8% | 6.0% | 9 |
| 1970s | 5.7% | 5.3% | 5.8% | 10 |
| 1980s | 4.9% | 4.6% | 5.3% | 10 |
| 1990s | 4.3% | 4.2% | 4.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.2% | 4.1% | 4.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.9% | 3.6% | 4.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.5% | 3.4% | 3.6% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Africa Western and Central
More climate change data for Africa Western and Central
- Urban population, annual growth rate 3.49 % change on previous year (2025)
- Urban population, per unit of GDP 0.0003 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Urban population, per capita 0.5348 units per person (2025)
- Urban population 284.93 million (2025)
- Population, total 532.81 million (2025)
- Population growth 2.3% (2025)
- Population, total, per unit of GDP 0.0006 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population, total, annual growth rate 2.33 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population, total, per square kilometre 56.19 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Urban population, per square kilometre 29.39 units per square kilometre (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is urban population growth in Africa Western and Central?
- Urban population growth in Africa Western and Central was 3.4% in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest urban population growth recorded in Africa Western and Central?
- The highest recorded value was 6.0% in 1965.
- What is the lowest urban population growth recorded in Africa Western and Central?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.4% in 2025.
- How does Africa Western and Central rank for urban population growth?
- Africa Western and Central ranks 10th out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is urban population growth rising or falling in Africa Western and Central?
- Over the last ten years it is down 12.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Africa Western and Central 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.