Urban population (% of total population) in Africa Western and Central
Africa Western and Central: Urban population (% of total population) was 53.5% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Urban population in Africa Western and Central, 1960–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN). Measured in % of total population.
Analysis
In 2025, urban population in Africa Western and Central stood at 53.5%. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
That represents a change of up 1.1% on the previous year and up 12.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban population in Africa Western and Central peaked at 53.5% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 13.9%, in 1960.
That places Africa Western and Central 26th out of 47 groups with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 66 years of available data.
Urban population (% of total population) in Africa Western and Central, year by year
| Year | % of total population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 13.9% | — |
| 1961 | 14.5% | +3.7% |
| 1962 | 15.0% | +3.8% |
| 1963 | 15.6% | +3.8% |
| 1964 | 16.2% | +3.8% |
| 1965 | 16.8% | +3.9% |
| 1966 | 17.5% | +3.8% |
| 1967 | 18.1% | +3.7% |
| 1968 | 18.8% | +3.6% |
| 1969 | 19.4% | +3.5% |
| 1970 | 20.1% | +3.4% |
| 1971 | 20.8% | +3.3% |
| 1972 | 21.5% | +3.3% |
| 1973 | 22.2% | +3.3% |
| 1974 | 22.9% | +3.2% |
| 1975 | 23.6% | +3.1% |
| 1976 | 24.3% | +3.0% |
| 1977 | 25.0% | +2.9% |
| 1978 | 25.7% | +2.7% |
| 1979 | 26.3% | +2.5% |
| 1980 | 27.0% | +2.5% |
| 1981 | 27.6% | +2.4% |
| 1982 | 28.3% | +2.3% |
| 1983 | 28.9% | +2.2% |
| 1984 | 29.5% | +2.1% |
| 1985 | 30.1% | +2.1% |
| 1986 | 30.7% | +1.9% |
| 1987 | 31.3% | +2.1% |
| 1988 | 31.9% | +1.9% |
| 1989 | 32.5% | +1.8% |
| 1990 | 33.1% | +1.8% |
| 1991 | 33.8% | +2.1% |
| 1992 | 34.3% | +1.7% |
| 1993 | 34.9% | +1.6% |
| 1994 | 35.4% | +1.5% |
| 1995 | 36.0% | +1.5% |
| 1996 | 36.5% | +1.5% |
| 1997 | 37.1% | +1.6% |
| 1998 | 37.7% | +1.6% |
| 1999 | 38.3% | +1.6% |
| 2000 | 38.9% | +1.6% |
| 2001 | 39.5% | +1.5% |
| 2002 | 40.1% | +1.5% |
| 2003 | 40.7% | +1.5% |
| 2004 | 41.2% | +1.5% |
| 2005 | 41.8% | +1.4% |
| 2006 | 42.4% | +1.4% |
| 2007 | 43.0% | +1.3% |
| 2008 | 43.6% | +1.3% |
| 2009 | 44.2% | +1.3% |
| 2010 | 44.7% | +1.3% |
| 2011 | 45.3% | +1.3% |
| 2012 | 45.9% | +1.3% |
| 2013 | 46.5% | +1.3% |
| 2014 | 47.0% | +1.2% |
| 2015 | 47.6% | +1.2% |
| 2016 | 48.2% | +1.2% |
| 2017 | 48.8% | +1.2% |
| 2018 | 49.3% | +1.2% |
| 2019 | 49.9% | +1.2% |
| 2020 | 50.5% | +1.2% |
| 2021 | 51.1% | +1.2% |
| 2022 | 51.7% | +1.2% |
| 2023 | 52.3% | +1.2% |
| 2024 | 52.9% | +1.1% |
| 2025 | 53.5% | +1.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 16.6% | 13.9% | 19.4% | 10 |
| 1970s | 23.2% | 20.1% | 26.3% | 10 |
| 1980s | 29.8% | 27.0% | 32.5% | 10 |
| 1990s | 35.7% | 33.1% | 38.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 41.5% | 38.9% | 44.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 47.3% | 44.7% | 49.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 52.0% | 50.5% | 53.5% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Africa Western and Central
More climate change data for Africa Western and Central
- 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 284.93 million (2025)
- Urban population, per capita 0.5348 units per person (2025)
- Urban population, per unit of GDP 0.0003 units per US$ of GDP (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)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million 18.1% (2025)
- Annual freshwater withdrawals, total 32.38 billion cubic meters (2022)
Frequently asked questions
- What is urban population in Africa Western and Central?
- Urban population in Africa Western and Central was 53.5% in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest urban population recorded in Africa Western and Central?
- The highest recorded value was 53.5% in 2025.
- What is the lowest urban population recorded in Africa Western and Central?
- The lowest recorded value was 13.9% in 1960.
- How does Africa Western and Central rank for urban population?
- Africa Western and Central ranks 26th out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is urban population rising or falling in Africa Western and Central?
- Over the last ten years it is up 12.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- 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 (% 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.