Rural population (% of total population) (Rural World Urbanization) in Africa Eastern and Southern
Africa Eastern and Southern: Rural population (% of total population) (Rural World Urbanization) was 61.3% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Rural population in Africa Eastern and Southern, 1960–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN). Measured in % of total population.
Analysis
The most recent figure for rural population in Africa Eastern and Southern is 61.3%, measured in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 66 years on record.
That represents a change of down 0.7% on the previous year and down 6.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, rural population in Africa Eastern and Southern peaked at 85.4% in 1960 and was at its lowest, 61.3%, in 2025.
That places Africa Eastern and Southern 7th out of 47 groups with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 66 years of available data.
Rural population (% of total population) (Rural World Urbanization) in Africa Eastern and Southern, year by year
| Year | % of total population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 85.4% | — |
| 1961 | 85.1% | -0.3% |
| 1962 | 84.9% | -0.3% |
| 1963 | 84.6% | -0.3% |
| 1964 | 84.4% | -0.3% |
| 1965 | 84.1% | -0.3% |
| 1966 | 83.9% | -0.3% |
| 1967 | 83.6% | -0.3% |
| 1968 | 83.3% | -0.3% |
| 1969 | 83.0% | -0.4% |
| 1970 | 82.7% | -0.4% |
| 1971 | 82.3% | -0.4% |
| 1972 | 82.0% | -0.4% |
| 1973 | 81.6% | -0.5% |
| 1974 | 81.2% | -0.5% |
| 1975 | 80.9% | -0.4% |
| 1976 | 80.5% | -0.4% |
| 1977 | 80.2% | -0.4% |
| 1978 | 79.8% | -0.4% |
| 1979 | 79.5% | -0.4% |
| 1980 | 79.2% | -0.4% |
| 1981 | 78.8% | -0.4% |
| 1982 | 78.5% | -0.4% |
| 1983 | 78.1% | -0.5% |
| 1984 | 77.7% | -0.5% |
| 1985 | 77.3% | -0.6% |
| 1986 | 76.8% | -0.6% |
| 1987 | 76.2% | -0.7% |
| 1988 | 75.7% | -0.7% |
| 1989 | 75.2% | -0.7% |
| 1990 | 74.7% | -0.6% |
| 1991 | 74.3% | -0.5% |
| 1992 | 74.0% | -0.4% |
| 1993 | 73.7% | -0.4% |
| 1994 | 73.3% | -0.5% |
| 1995 | 73.0% | -0.4% |
| 1996 | 72.7% | -0.3% |
| 1997 | 72.5% | -0.3% |
| 1998 | 72.2% | -0.4% |
| 1999 | 71.9% | -0.4% |
| 2000 | 71.5% | -0.5% |
| 2001 | 71.2% | -0.5% |
| 2002 | 70.8% | -0.5% |
| 2003 | 70.4% | -0.6% |
| 2004 | 69.9% | -0.6% |
| 2005 | 69.5% | -0.6% |
| 2006 | 69.0% | -0.6% |
| 2007 | 68.6% | -0.5% |
| 2008 | 68.2% | -0.7% |
| 2009 | 67.8% | -0.6% |
| 2010 | 67.4% | -0.5% |
| 2011 | 67.1% | -0.5% |
| 2012 | 66.7% | -0.5% |
| 2013 | 66.3% | -0.6% |
| 2014 | 65.9% | -0.6% |
| 2015 | 65.5% | -0.6% |
| 2016 | 65.1% | -0.6% |
| 2017 | 64.7% | -0.6% |
| 2018 | 64.3% | -0.7% |
| 2019 | 63.9% | -0.6% |
| 2020 | 63.5% | -0.6% |
| 2021 | 63.1% | -0.7% |
| 2022 | 62.6% | -0.7% |
| 2023 | 62.2% | -0.7% |
| 2024 | 61.8% | -0.8% |
| 2025 | 61.3% | -0.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 84.2% | 83.0% | 85.4% | 10 |
| 1970s | 81.1% | 79.5% | 82.7% | 10 |
| 1980s | 77.4% | 75.2% | 79.2% | 10 |
| 1990s | 73.2% | 71.9% | 74.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 69.7% | 67.8% | 71.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 65.7% | 63.9% | 67.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 62.4% | 61.3% | 63.5% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Africa Eastern and Southern
More agriculture & rural data for Africa Eastern and Southern
- Agricultural raw materials imports 1.1% (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 1.78 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0.0004 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.613 units per person (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 1.9% (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added 209.47 billion current US$ (2025)
- Rural population 483.55 million (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added 15.4% (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 265.55 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population growth 1.8% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is rural population in Africa Eastern and Southern?
- Rural population in Africa Eastern and Southern was 61.3% in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest rural population recorded in Africa Eastern and Southern?
- The highest recorded value was 85.4% in 1960.
- What is the lowest rural population recorded in Africa Eastern and Southern?
- The lowest recorded value was 61.3% in 2025.
- How does Africa Eastern and Southern rank for rural population?
- Africa Eastern and Southern ranks 7th out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is rural population rising or falling in Africa Eastern and Southern?
- Over the last ten years it is down 6.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Africa Eastern and Southern data come from?
- The figures come from World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN), published as part of Rural population (% of total population). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Rural population refers to people living in rural areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated as the difference between total population and urban population.