Sub-Saharan Africa Urban Population 1960-2024

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.
  • Sub-Saharan Africa urban population for 2023 was 532,901,299, a 3.85% increase from 2022.
  • Sub-Saharan Africa urban population for 2022 was 513,160,573, a 3.86% increase from 2021.
  • Sub-Saharan Africa urban population for 2021 was 494,081,113, a 3.92% increase from 2020.
  • Sub-Saharan Africa urban population for 2020 was 475,423,476, a 4% increase from 2019.
Data Source: World Bank

MLA Citation:
Similar Country Ranking
Country Name Urban Population
World 4,600,280,070
East Asia & Pacific 1,499,472,430
OECD members 1,131,340,376
South Asia 703,931,878
Latin America & Caribbean 543,707,545
Sub-Saharan Africa 532,901,299
European Union 340,311,203
North America 311,865,727
Euro Area 273,162,331
Sub-Saharan Africa Urban Population - Historical Data
Year Population % of Total Change
2023 532,901,299 42.91 3.85%
2022 513,160,573 42.37 3.86%
2021 494,081,113 41.83 3.92%
2020 475,423,476 41.29 4.00%
2019 457,135,347 40.76 4.03%
2018 439,414,529 40.22 4.07%
2017 422,226,237 39.69 4.06%
2016 405,768,051 39.16 4.13%
2015 389,673,656 38.63 4.23%
2014 373,846,710 38.09 4.21%
2013 358,752,210 37.56 4.20%
2012 344,302,619 37.05 4.21%
2011 330,397,705 36.54 4.27%
2010 316,860,625 36.02 4.29%
2009 303,836,244 35.50 4.28%
2008 291,355,929 34.99 4.29%
2007 279,364,356 34.49 4.03%
2006 268,533,982 34.07 4.15%
2005 257,825,161 33.62 4.16%
2004 247,522,643 33.16 4.11%
2003 237,743,572 32.71 4.09%
2002 228,391,489 32.27 4.10%
2001 219,400,444 31.84 4.07%
2000 210,824,543 31.41 3.85%
1999 203,014,745 31.05 3.83%
1998 195,525,671 30.69 3.83%
1997 188,310,397 30.32 3.84%
1996 181,348,752 29.97 3.86%
1995 174,614,098 29.63 4.03%
1994 167,842,807 29.24 4.14%
1993 161,165,932 28.81 4.22%
1992 154,639,169 28.38 4.25%
1991 148,335,300 27.95 4.37%
1990 142,129,313 27.51 4.91%
1989 135,479,864 26.96 5.00%
1988 129,031,912 26.40 5.11%
1987 122,764,568 25.83 5.24%
1986 116,650,964 25.26 5.26%
1985 110,817,541 24.69 5.17%
1984 105,368,499 24.15 4.97%
1983 100,381,452 23.66 4.88%
1982 95,711,811 23.21 4.88%
1981 91,254,530 22.80 4.87%
1980 87,018,684 22.38 4.73%
1979 83,092,487 22.00 4.90%
1978 79,207,851 21.60 5.07%
1977 75,386,135 21.16 4.95%
1976 71,829,737 20.73 5.07%
1975 68,364,923 20.30 5.08%
1974 65,058,517 19.87 5.06%
1973 61,926,821 19.45 5.08%
1972 58,934,072 19.01 5.07%
1971 56,090,894 18.58 5.02%
1970 53,407,612 18.17 4.87%
1969 50,925,574 17.79 4.96%
1968 48,519,795 17.40 4.92%
1967 46,243,108 17.02 4.88%
1966 44,091,894 16.65 4.86%
1965 42,048,203 16.29 4.92%
1964 40,075,487 15.93 4.86%
1963 38,218,062 15.58 4.77%
1962 36,478,617 15.25 4.65%
1961 34,858,964 14.93 4.57%
1960 33,335,738 14.62 %