Urban population in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)
Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income): Urban population was 590.18 million in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Urban population in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income), 1960–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
Analysis
Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) recorded 590.18 million for urban population in 2025. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
That represents a change of up 3.6% on the previous year and up 44.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban population in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) peaked at 590.18 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 32.65 million, in 1960.
Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) ranks 22nd of 45 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 in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income), year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 32.65 million | — |
| 1961 | 34.27 million | +5.0% |
| 1962 | 36.01 million | +5.1% |
| 1963 | 37.86 million | +5.1% |
| 1964 | 39.83 million | +5.2% |
| 1965 | 41.93 million | +5.3% |
| 1966 | 44.15 million | +5.3% |
| 1967 | 46.48 million | +5.3% |
| 1968 | 48.95 million | +5.3% |
| 1969 | 51.56 million | +5.3% |
| 1970 | 54.31 million | +5.3% |
| 1971 | 57.22 million | +5.4% |
| 1972 | 60.31 million | +5.4% |
| 1973 | 63.62 million | +5.5% |
| 1974 | 67.10 million | +5.5% |
| 1975 | 70.72 million | +5.4% |
| 1976 | 74.47 million | +5.3% |
| 1977 | 78.33 million | +5.2% |
| 1978 | 82.37 million | +5.2% |
| 1979 | 86.61 million | +5.1% |
| 1980 | 91.01 million | +5.1% |
| 1981 | 95.59 million | +5.0% |
| 1982 | 100.42 million | +5.1% |
| 1983 | 105.42 million | +5.0% |
| 1984 | 110.65 million | +5.0% |
| 1985 | 116.24 million | +5.1% |
| 1986 | 122.07 million | +5.0% |
| 1987 | 128.37 million | +5.2% |
| 1988 | 134.80 million | +5.0% |
| 1989 | 141.42 million | +4.9% |
| 1990 | 148.12 million | +4.7% |
| 1991 | 154.94 million | +4.6% |
| 1992 | 161.49 million | +4.2% |
| 1993 | 168.28 million | +4.2% |
| 1994 | 175.34 million | +4.2% |
| 1995 | 182.50 million | +4.1% |
| 1996 | 189.69 million | +3.9% |
| 1997 | 197.15 million | +3.9% |
| 1998 | 205.17 million | +4.1% |
| 1999 | 213.55 million | +4.1% |
| 2000 | 222.31 million | +4.1% |
| 2001 | 231.58 million | +4.2% |
| 2002 | 241.33 million | +4.2% |
| 2003 | 251.58 million | +4.2% |
| 2004 | 262.40 million | +4.3% |
| 2005 | 273.67 million | +4.3% |
| 2006 | 285.40 million | +4.3% |
| 2007 | 297.12 million | +4.1% |
| 2008 | 309.88 million | +4.3% |
| 2009 | 322.61 million | +4.1% |
| 2010 | 335.60 million | +4.0% |
| 2011 | 349.01 million | +4.0% |
| 2012 | 362.84 million | +4.0% |
| 2013 | 377.37 million | +4.0% |
| 2014 | 392.51 million | +4.0% |
| 2015 | 408.17 million | +4.0% |
| 2016 | 424.02 million | +3.9% |
| 2017 | 440.41 million | +3.9% |
| 2018 | 457.57 million | +3.9% |
| 2019 | 474.78 million | +3.8% |
| 2020 | 492.52 million | +3.7% |
| 2021 | 510.92 million | +3.7% |
| 2022 | 529.98 million | +3.7% |
| 2023 | 549.28 million | +3.6% |
| 2024 | 569.45 million | +3.7% |
| 2025 | 590.18 million | +3.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 41.37 million | 32.65 million | 51.56 million | 10 |
| 1970s | 69.51 million | 54.31 million | 86.61 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 114.60 million | 91.01 million | 141.42 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 179.62 million | 148.12 million | 213.55 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 269.79 million | 222.31 million | 322.61 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 402.23 million | 335.60 million | 474.78 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 540.39 million | 492.52 million | 590.18 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)
More climate change data for Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)
- Population growth 2.4% (2025)
- Population, total 1.32 billion (2025)
- Urban population growth 3.6% (2025)
- Urban population 44.7% (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million 16.3% (2025)
- Annual freshwater withdrawals, total 132.53 billion cubic meters (2022)
- Annual freshwater withdrawals, total 3.4% (2022)
- Terrestrial protected areas 17.3% (2025)
- Terrestrial and marine protected areas 13.3% (2025)
- Marine protected areas 3.7% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is urban population in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)?
- Urban population in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) was 590.18 million in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest urban population recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)?
- The highest recorded value was 590.18 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest urban population recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)?
- The lowest recorded value was 32.65 million in 1960.
- How does Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) rank for urban population?
- Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) ranks 22nd out of 45 groups with data for 2025.
- Is urban population rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)?
- Over the last ten years it is up 44.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) data come from?
- The figures come from World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN), published as part of Urban population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated using World Bank population estimates and urban ratios from the United Nations World Urbanization Prospects. Aggregation of urban and rural population may not add up to total population because of different country coverages.