Urban population, per square kilometre in Africa Western and Central
Africa Western and Central: Urban population, per square kilometre was 29.39 units per square kilometre in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Urban population, per square kilometre in Africa Western and Central, 1961–2023
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in units per square kilometre.
Analysis
Africa Western and Central recorded 29.39 units per square kilometre for urban population, per square kilometre in 2023. That is the highest value across all 63 years on record.
That represents a change of up 3.6% on the previous year and up 44.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban population, per square kilometre in Africa Western and Central peaked at 29.39 units per square kilometre in 2023 and was at its lowest, 1.59 units per square kilometre, in 1961.
Africa Western and Central ranks 24th of 47 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Urban population, per square kilometre in Africa Western and Central, year by year
| Year | units per square kilometre | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 1.59 units per square kilometre | — |
| 1962 | 1.69 units per square kilometre | +6.0% |
| 1963 | 1.79 units per square kilometre | +6.1% |
| 1964 | 1.9 units per square kilometre | +6.1% |
| 1965 | 2.02 units per square kilometre | +6.2% |
| 1966 | 2.15 units per square kilometre | +6.1% |
| 1967 | 2.28 units per square kilometre | +6.1% |
| 1968 | 2.41 units per square kilometre | +6.0% |
| 1969 | 2.56 units per square kilometre | +6.0% |
| 1970 | 2.71 units per square kilometre | +5.9% |
| 1971 | 2.87 units per square kilometre | +5.9% |
| 1972 | 3.04 units per square kilometre | +5.9% |
| 1973 | 3.22 units per square kilometre | +5.9% |
| 1974 | 3.41 units per square kilometre | +6.0% |
| 1975 | 3.61 units per square kilometre | +5.9% |
| 1976 | 3.82 units per square kilometre | +5.8% |
| 1977 | 4.04 units per square kilometre | +5.8% |
| 1978 | 4.27 units per square kilometre | +5.6% |
| 1979 | 4.5 units per square kilometre | +5.5% |
| 1980 | 4.75 units per square kilometre | +5.4% |
| 1981 | 5 units per square kilometre | +5.4% |
| 1982 | 5.26 units per square kilometre | +5.3% |
| 1983 | 5.53 units per square kilometre | +5.0% |
| 1984 | 5.8 units per square kilometre | +4.9% |
| 1985 | 6.08 units per square kilometre | +4.9% |
| 1986 | 6.37 units per square kilometre | +4.7% |
| 1987 | 6.68 units per square kilometre | +4.9% |
| 1988 | 7 units per square kilometre | +4.7% |
| 1989 | 7.33 units per square kilometre | +4.7% |
| 1990 | 7.66 units per square kilometre | +4.5% |
| 1991 | 8.03 units per square kilometre | +4.8% |
| 1992 | 8.39 units per square kilometre | +4.5% |
| 1993 | 8.75 units per square kilometre | +4.4% |
| 1994 | 9.13 units per square kilometre | +4.3% |
| 1995 | 9.52 units per square kilometre | +4.3% |
| 1996 | 9.93 units per square kilometre | +4.3% |
| 1997 | 10.37 units per square kilometre | +4.4% |
| 1998 | 10.83 units per square kilometre | +4.4% |
| 1999 | 11.3 units per square kilometre | +4.4% |
| 2000 | 11.8 units per square kilometre | +4.4% |
| 2001 | 12.32 units per square kilometre | +4.4% |
| 2002 | 12.86 units per square kilometre | +4.4% |
| 2003 | 13.43 units per square kilometre | +4.4% |
| 2004 | 14.01 units per square kilometre | +4.4% |
| 2005 | 14.63 units per square kilometre | +4.4% |
| 2006 | 15.26 units per square kilometre | +4.4% |
| 2007 | 15.91 units per square kilometre | +4.3% |
| 2008 | 16.58 units per square kilometre | +4.2% |
| 2009 | 17.28 units per square kilometre | +4.2% |
| 2010 | 18 units per square kilometre | +4.2% |
| 2011 | 18.75 units per square kilometre | +4.2% |
| 2012 | 19.52 units per square kilometre | +4.1% |
| 2013 | 20.31 units per square kilometre | +4.0% |
| 2014 | 21.13 units per square kilometre | +4.0% |
| 2015 | 21.98 units per square kilometre | +4.0% |
| 2016 | 22.84 units per square kilometre | +3.9% |
| 2017 | 23.73 units per square kilometre | +3.9% |
| 2018 | 24.62 units per square kilometre | +3.8% |
| 2019 | 25.52 units per square kilometre | +3.7% |
| 2020 | 26.44 units per square kilometre | +3.6% |
| 2021 | 27.39 units per square kilometre | +3.6% |
| 2022 | 28.37 units per square kilometre | +3.6% |
| 2023 | 29.39 units per square kilometre | +3.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 2.04 units per square kilometre | 1.59 units per square kilometre | 2.56 units per square kilometre | 9 |
| 1970s | 3.55 units per square kilometre | 2.71 units per square kilometre | 4.5 units per square kilometre | 10 |
| 1980s | 5.98 units per square kilometre | 4.75 units per square kilometre | 7.33 units per square kilometre | 10 |
| 1990s | 9.39 units per square kilometre | 7.66 units per square kilometre | 11.3 units per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2000s | 14.41 units per square kilometre | 11.8 units per square kilometre | 17.28 units per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2010s | 21.64 units per square kilometre | 18 units per square kilometre | 25.52 units per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2020s | 27.9 units per square kilometre | 26.44 units per square kilometre | 29.39 units per square kilometre | 4 |
Countries ranked near Africa Western and Central
- 21 Aruba 368.81 units per square kilometre compare
- 22 Puerto Rico 340.16 units per square kilometre compare
- 23 Belgium 338.21 units per square kilometre compare
- 24 Curaçao 318.39 units per square kilometre compare
- 25 Japan 314.5 units per square kilometre compare
- 26 Cayman Islands 304.32 units per square kilometre compare
- 27 Guam 290.26 units per square kilometre compare
More climate change data for Africa Western and Central
- Urban population growth 3.4% (2025)
- Population, total, annual growth rate 2.33 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population, total, per unit of GDP 0.0006 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- 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 53.5% (2025)
- Urban population 284.93 million (2025)
- Population, total 532.81 million (2025)
- Population growth 2.3% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is urban population, per square kilometre in Africa Western and Central?
- Urban population, per square kilometre in Africa Western and Central was 29.39 units per square kilometre in 2023, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest urban population, per square kilometre recorded in Africa Western and Central?
- The highest recorded value was 29.39 units per square kilometre in 2023.
- What is the lowest urban population, per square kilometre recorded in Africa Western and Central?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.59 units per square kilometre in 1961.
- How does Africa Western and Central rank for urban population, per square kilometre?
- Africa Western and Central ranks 24th out of 47 groups with data for 2023.
- Is urban population, per square kilometre rising or falling in Africa Western and Central?
- Over the last ten years it is up 44.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Africa Western and Central data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Urban population, per square kilometre. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 63 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
Urban population divided by Land area (sq. km), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.
Urban population ÷ Land area (sq. km)
Computed from
- Urban population World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN)
- Land area FAOSTAT, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
Urban population divided by Land area (sq. km), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.