Urban population in Sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa: Urban population was 590.23 million in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Urban population in Sub-Saharan Africa, 1960–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
Analysis
The most recent figure for urban population in Sub-Saharan Africa is 590.23 million, measured 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 peaked at 590.23 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 32.66 million, in 1960.
Sub-Saharan Africa 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, 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
More climate change data for Sub-Saharan Africa
- All Crops — Burning crop residues 50.90 million t (2050)
- Rice — Area harvested 14.64 million ha (2050)
- All Crops — Crops total 156.62 kt (2050)
- All Crops — Crops total 1,638 kt (2050)
- All Crops — Crop residues 3.33 billion kg (2050)
- All Crops — Crop residues 64.15 kt (2050)
- All Crops — Crop residues 52.37 kt (2050)
- All Crops — Crop residues 11.78 kt (2050)
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers 88.91 kt (2050)
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers 4.27 billion kg (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is urban population in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Urban population in Sub-Saharan Africa 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?
- The highest recorded value was 590.23 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest urban population recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 32.66 million in 1960.
- How does Sub-Saharan Africa rank for urban population?
- Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 20th out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is urban population rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- 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 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
CSV · JSON — 66 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
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.