Urban population in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)
Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries): Urban population was 590.23 million in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Urban population in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries), 1960–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
Analysis
Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) recorded 590.23 million for urban population in 2025. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
The figure is up 3.6% on the previous year and up 44.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban population in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) peaked at 590.23 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 32.66 million, in 1960.
Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) ranks 20th 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 in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries), year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 32.66 million | — |
| 1961 | 34.28 million | +5.0% |
| 1962 | 36.02 million | +5.1% |
| 1963 | 37.87 million | +5.1% |
| 1964 | 39.84 million | +5.2% |
| 1965 | 41.94 million | +5.3% |
| 1966 | 44.16 million | +5.3% |
| 1967 | 46.50 million | +5.3% |
| 1968 | 48.97 million | +5.3% |
| 1969 | 51.58 million | +5.3% |
| 1970 | 54.33 million | +5.3% |
| 1971 | 57.24 million | +5.4% |
| 1972 | 60.34 million | +5.4% |
| 1973 | 63.65 million | +5.5% |
| 1974 | 67.13 million | +5.5% |
| 1975 | 70.75 million | +5.4% |
| 1976 | 74.50 million | +5.3% |
| 1977 | 78.36 million | +5.2% |
| 1978 | 82.40 million | +5.2% |
| 1979 | 86.64 million | +5.1% |
| 1980 | 91.04 million | +5.1% |
| 1981 | 95.62 million | +5.0% |
| 1982 | 100.45 million | +5.1% |
| 1983 | 105.45 million | +5.0% |
| 1984 | 110.68 million | +5.0% |
| 1985 | 116.27 million | +5.0% |
| 1986 | 122.10 million | +5.0% |
| 1987 | 128.41 million | +5.2% |
| 1988 | 134.84 million | +5.0% |
| 1989 | 141.45 million | +4.9% |
| 1990 | 148.15 million | +4.7% |
| 1991 | 154.97 million | +4.6% |
| 1992 | 161.53 million | +4.2% |
| 1993 | 168.31 million | +4.2% |
| 1994 | 175.38 million | +4.2% |
| 1995 | 182.53 million | +4.1% |
| 1996 | 189.72 million | +3.9% |
| 1997 | 197.18 million | +3.9% |
| 1998 | 205.21 million | +4.1% |
| 1999 | 213.59 million | +4.1% |
| 2000 | 222.34 million | +4.1% |
| 2001 | 231.61 million | +4.2% |
| 2002 | 241.36 million | +4.2% |
| 2003 | 251.62 million | +4.2% |
| 2004 | 262.44 million | +4.3% |
| 2005 | 273.71 million | +4.3% |
| 2006 | 285.43 million | +4.3% |
| 2007 | 297.16 million | +4.1% |
| 2008 | 309.92 million | +4.3% |
| 2009 | 322.65 million | +4.1% |
| 2010 | 335.64 million | +4.0% |
| 2011 | 349.04 million | +4.0% |
| 2012 | 362.88 million | +4.0% |
| 2013 | 377.41 million | +4.0% |
| 2014 | 392.55 million | +4.0% |
| 2015 | 408.20 million | +4.0% |
| 2016 | 424.06 million | +3.9% |
| 2017 | 440.45 million | +3.9% |
| 2018 | 457.62 million | +3.9% |
| 2019 | 474.82 million | +3.8% |
| 2020 | 492.57 million | +3.7% |
| 2021 | 510.96 million | +3.7% |
| 2022 | 530.03 million | +3.7% |
| 2023 | 549.34 million | +3.6% |
| 2024 | 569.50 million | +3.7% |
| 2025 | 590.23 million | +3.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 41.38 million | 32.66 million | 51.58 million | 10 |
| 1970s | 69.53 million | 54.33 million | 86.64 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 114.63 million | 91.04 million | 141.45 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 179.66 million | 148.15 million | 213.59 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 269.82 million | 222.34 million | 322.65 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 402.27 million | 335.64 million | 474.82 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 540.44 million | 492.57 million | 590.23 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)
More climate change data for Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)
- Urban population, annual growth rate 3.64 % change on previous year (2025)
- Urban population, per unit of GDP 0.0003 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Urban population, per capita 0.4466 units per person (2025)
- Urban population growth 3.6% (2025)
- Population, total 1.32 billion (2025)
- Population growth 2.4% (2025)
- Population, total, per unit of GDP 0.0006 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population, total, annual growth rate 2.46 % change on previous year (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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is urban population in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- Urban population in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) was 590.23 million 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 590.23 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest urban population recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- The lowest recorded value was 32.66 million in 1960.
- How does Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) rank for urban population?
- Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) ranks 20th 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 44.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- 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. 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.