Urban population (% of total population) in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)
Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries): Urban population (% of total population) was 44.7% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Urban population in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries), 1960–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN). Measured in % of total population.
Analysis
The most recent figure for urban population in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) is 44.7%, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.2% on the previous year and up 12.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban population in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) peaked at 44.7% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 14.3%, in 1960.
That places Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) 35th 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 Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries), year by year
| Year | % of total population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 14.3% | — |
| 1961 | 14.7% | +2.5% |
| 1962 | 15.1% | +2.5% |
| 1963 | 15.5% | +2.6% |
| 1964 | 15.9% | +2.6% |
| 1965 | 16.3% | +2.6% |
| 1966 | 16.7% | +2.6% |
| 1967 | 17.1% | +2.6% |
| 1968 | 17.6% | +2.6% |
| 1969 | 18.0% | +2.6% |
| 1970 | 18.5% | +2.5% |
| 1971 | 19.0% | +2.6% |
| 1972 | 19.5% | +2.6% |
| 1973 | 20.0% | +2.6% |
| 1974 | 20.5% | +2.5% |
| 1975 | 21.0% | +2.5% |
| 1976 | 21.5% | +2.4% |
| 1977 | 22.0% | +2.3% |
| 1978 | 22.4% | +2.1% |
| 1979 | 22.9% | +2.0% |
| 1980 | 23.4% | +2.0% |
| 1981 | 23.8% | +1.9% |
| 1982 | 24.2% | +1.9% |
| 1983 | 24.7% | +1.9% |
| 1984 | 25.2% | +2.0% |
| 1985 | 25.7% | +2.1% |
| 1986 | 26.2% | +2.0% |
| 1987 | 26.8% | +2.2% |
| 1988 | 27.4% | +2.1% |
| 1989 | 27.9% | +2.0% |
| 1990 | 28.4% | +1.9% |
| 1991 | 28.9% | +1.8% |
| 1992 | 29.4% | +1.5% |
| 1993 | 29.8% | +1.4% |
| 1994 | 30.2% | +1.5% |
| 1995 | 30.6% | +1.4% |
| 1996 | 31.0% | +1.2% |
| 1997 | 31.4% | +1.2% |
| 1998 | 31.8% | +1.3% |
| 1999 | 32.2% | +1.3% |
| 2000 | 32.7% | +1.4% |
| 2001 | 33.1% | +1.4% |
| 2002 | 33.6% | +1.4% |
| 2003 | 34.1% | +1.5% |
| 2004 | 34.6% | +1.5% |
| 2005 | 35.1% | +1.5% |
| 2006 | 35.6% | +1.5% |
| 2007 | 36.1% | +1.3% |
| 2008 | 36.6% | +1.4% |
| 2009 | 37.1% | +1.3% |
| 2010 | 37.5% | +1.2% |
| 2011 | 38.0% | +1.2% |
| 2012 | 38.4% | +1.2% |
| 2013 | 38.9% | +1.2% |
| 2014 | 39.4% | +1.2% |
| 2015 | 39.8% | +1.2% |
| 2016 | 40.3% | +1.2% |
| 2017 | 40.8% | +1.2% |
| 2018 | 41.3% | +1.2% |
| 2019 | 41.7% | +1.1% |
| 2020 | 42.2% | +1.1% |
| 2021 | 42.6% | +1.1% |
| 2022 | 43.2% | +1.2% |
| 2023 | 43.6% | +1.1% |
| 2024 | 44.1% | +1.2% |
| 2025 | 44.7% | +1.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 16.1% | 14.3% | 18.0% | 10 |
| 1970s | 20.7% | 18.5% | 22.9% | 10 |
| 1980s | 25.5% | 23.4% | 27.9% | 10 |
| 1990s | 30.4% | 28.4% | 32.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | 34.9% | 32.7% | 37.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 39.6% | 37.5% | 41.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 43.4% | 42.2% | 44.7% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)
More climate change data for Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)
- Population, total, annual growth rate 2.46 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population, total, per unit of GDP 0.0006 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Urban population, annual growth rate 3.64 % change on previous year (2025)
- Urban population 590.23 million (2025)
- Urban population, per capita 0.4466 units per person (2025)
- Urban population, per unit of GDP 0.0003 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population, total, per square kilometre 52.66 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Urban population, per square kilometre 22.98 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million 16.3% (2025)
- Annual freshwater withdrawals, total 132.54 billion cubic meters (2022)
Frequently asked questions
- What is urban population in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- Urban population in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) was 44.7% in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest urban population recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- The highest recorded value was 44.7% in 2025.
- What is the lowest urban population recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- The lowest recorded value was 14.3% in 1960.
- How does Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) rank for urban population?
- Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) ranks 35th out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is urban population rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- Over the last ten years it is up 12.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) 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.