Urban population (% of total population) in Africa Eastern and Southern
Africa Eastern and Southern: Urban population (% of total population) was 38.7% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Urban population in Africa Eastern and Southern, 1960–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN). Measured in % of total population.
Analysis
The most recent figure for urban population in Africa Eastern and Southern is 38.7%, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
The figure is up 1.2% on the previous year and up 12.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban population in Africa Eastern and Southern peaked at 38.7% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 14.6%, in 1960.
Africa Eastern and Southern ranks 41st of 47 groups on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 66 years of available data.
Urban population (% of total population) in Africa Eastern and Southern, year by year
| Year | % of total population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 14.6% | — |
| 1961 | 14.9% | +1.6% |
| 1962 | 15.1% | +1.6% |
| 1963 | 15.4% | +1.6% |
| 1964 | 15.6% | +1.6% |
| 1965 | 15.9% | +1.7% |
| 1966 | 16.1% | +1.7% |
| 1967 | 16.4% | +1.7% |
| 1968 | 16.7% | +1.8% |
| 1969 | 17.0% | +1.8% |
| 1970 | 17.3% | +1.9% |
| 1971 | 17.7% | +2.0% |
| 1972 | 18.0% | +2.1% |
| 1973 | 18.4% | +2.1% |
| 1974 | 18.8% | +2.0% |
| 1975 | 19.1% | +1.9% |
| 1976 | 19.5% | +1.8% |
| 1977 | 19.8% | +1.8% |
| 1978 | 20.2% | +1.7% |
| 1979 | 20.5% | +1.6% |
| 1980 | 20.8% | +1.7% |
| 1981 | 21.2% | +1.6% |
| 1982 | 21.5% | +1.5% |
| 1983 | 21.9% | +1.7% |
| 1984 | 22.3% | +1.9% |
| 1985 | 22.7% | +2.1% |
| 1986 | 23.2% | +2.2% |
| 1987 | 23.8% | +2.3% |
| 1988 | 24.3% | +2.2% |
| 1989 | 24.8% | +2.2% |
| 1990 | 25.3% | +1.9% |
| 1991 | 25.7% | +1.6% |
| 1992 | 26.0% | +1.3% |
| 1993 | 26.3% | +1.2% |
| 1994 | 26.7% | +1.4% |
| 1995 | 27.0% | +1.2% |
| 1996 | 27.3% | +0.9% |
| 1997 | 27.5% | +0.9% |
| 1998 | 27.8% | +1.1% |
| 1999 | 28.1% | +1.1% |
| 2000 | 28.5% | +1.2% |
| 2001 | 28.8% | +1.3% |
| 2002 | 29.2% | +1.4% |
| 2003 | 29.6% | +1.4% |
| 2004 | 30.1% | +1.5% |
| 2005 | 30.5% | +1.5% |
| 2006 | 31.0% | +1.5% |
| 2007 | 31.4% | +1.2% |
| 2008 | 31.8% | +1.5% |
| 2009 | 32.2% | +1.2% |
| 2010 | 32.6% | +1.1% |
| 2011 | 32.9% | +1.1% |
| 2012 | 33.3% | +1.1% |
| 2013 | 33.7% | +1.1% |
| 2014 | 34.1% | +1.2% |
| 2015 | 34.5% | +1.2% |
| 2016 | 34.9% | +1.1% |
| 2017 | 35.3% | +1.2% |
| 2018 | 35.7% | +1.2% |
| 2019 | 36.1% | +1.1% |
| 2020 | 36.5% | +1.1% |
| 2021 | 36.9% | +1.2% |
| 2022 | 37.4% | +1.2% |
| 2023 | 37.8% | +1.1% |
| 2024 | 38.2% | +1.2% |
| 2025 | 38.7% | +1.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 15.8% | 14.6% | 17.0% | 10 |
| 1970s | 18.9% | 17.3% | 20.5% | 10 |
| 1980s | 22.6% | 20.8% | 24.8% | 10 |
| 1990s | 26.8% | 25.3% | 28.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 30.3% | 28.5% | 32.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 34.3% | 32.6% | 36.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 37.6% | 36.5% | 38.7% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Africa Eastern and Southern
More climate change data for Africa Eastern and Southern
- Population, total, annual growth rate 2.54 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population, total, per unit of GDP 0.0006 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Urban population, annual growth rate 3.78 % change on previous year (2025)
- Urban population 305.30 million (2025)
- Urban population, per capita 0.387 units per person (2025)
- Urban population, per unit of GDP 0.0002 units per US$ of GDP (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)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million 15.2% (2025)
- Annual freshwater withdrawals, total 100.16 billion cubic meters (2022)
Frequently asked questions
- What is urban population in Africa Eastern and Southern?
- Urban population in Africa Eastern and Southern was 38.7% in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest urban population recorded in Africa Eastern and Southern?
- The highest recorded value was 38.7% in 2025.
- What is the lowest urban population recorded in Africa Eastern and Southern?
- The lowest recorded value was 14.6% in 1960.
- How does Africa Eastern and Southern rank for urban population?
- Africa Eastern and Southern ranks 41st out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is urban population rising or falling in Africa Eastern and Southern?
- Over the last ten years it is up 12.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- 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 (% of total population). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. The data are collected and smoothed by United Nations Population Division.