Rural population in Africa Western and Central
Africa Western and Central: Rural population was 247.88 million in 2025. ▲ Rising
Rural population in Africa Western and Central, 1960–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
Analysis
Africa Western and Central recorded 247.88 million for rural population in 2025. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
That represents a change of up 1.0% on the previous year and up 13.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, rural population in Africa Western and Central peaked at 247.88 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 84.01 million, in 1960.
That places Africa Western and Central 31st out of 47 groups with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 66 years of available data.
Rural population in Africa Western and Central, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 84.01 million | — |
| 1961 | 85.28 million | +1.5% |
| 1962 | 86.56 million | +1.5% |
| 1963 | 87.86 million | +1.5% |
| 1964 | 89.16 million | +1.5% |
| 1965 | 90.47 million | +1.5% |
| 1966 | 91.79 million | +1.5% |
| 1967 | 93.12 million | +1.4% |
| 1968 | 94.49 million | +1.5% |
| 1969 | 95.94 million | +1.5% |
| 1970 | 97.48 million | +1.6% |
| 1971 | 99.02 million | +1.6% |
| 1972 | 100.60 million | +1.6% |
| 1973 | 102.24 million | +1.6% |
| 1974 | 103.96 million | +1.7% |
| 1975 | 105.79 million | +1.8% |
| 1976 | 107.65 million | +1.8% |
| 1977 | 109.57 million | +1.8% |
| 1978 | 111.66 million | +1.9% |
| 1979 | 113.86 million | +2.0% |
| 1980 | 116.10 million | +2.0% |
| 1981 | 118.39 million | +2.0% |
| 1982 | 120.81 million | +2.0% |
| 1983 | 123.06 million | +1.9% |
| 1984 | 125.23 million | +1.8% |
| 1985 | 127.57 million | +1.9% |
| 1986 | 130.05 million | +1.9% |
| 1987 | 132.42 million | +1.8% |
| 1988 | 134.93 million | +1.9% |
| 1989 | 137.51 million | +1.9% |
| 1990 | 140.01 million | +1.8% |
| 1991 | 142.28 million | +1.6% |
| 1992 | 145.02 million | +1.9% |
| 1993 | 147.75 million | +1.9% |
| 1994 | 150.50 million | +1.9% |
| 1995 | 153.40 million | +1.9% |
| 1996 | 156.28 million | +1.9% |
| 1997 | 159.12 million | +1.8% |
| 1998 | 162.03 million | +1.8% |
| 1999 | 164.94 million | +1.8% |
| 2000 | 167.90 million | +1.8% |
| 2001 | 170.97 million | +1.8% |
| 2002 | 174.11 million | +1.8% |
| 2003 | 177.30 million | +1.8% |
| 2004 | 180.55 million | +1.8% |
| 2005 | 183.86 million | +1.8% |
| 2006 | 187.17 million | +1.8% |
| 2007 | 190.62 million | +1.8% |
| 2008 | 194.14 million | +1.8% |
| 2009 | 197.63 million | +1.8% |
| 2010 | 201.14 million | +1.8% |
| 2011 | 204.76 million | +1.8% |
| 2012 | 208.31 million | +1.7% |
| 2013 | 211.79 million | +1.7% |
| 2014 | 215.29 million | +1.7% |
| 2015 | 218.73 million | +1.6% |
| 2016 | 222.18 million | +1.6% |
| 2017 | 225.53 million | +1.5% |
| 2018 | 228.71 million | +1.4% |
| 2019 | 231.70 million | +1.3% |
| 2020 | 234.51 million | +1.2% |
| 2021 | 237.21 million | +1.1% |
| 2022 | 239.74 million | +1.1% |
| 2023 | 242.46 million | +1.1% |
| 2024 | 245.34 million | +1.2% |
| 2025 | 247.88 million | +1.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 89.87 million | 84.01 million | 95.94 million | 10 |
| 1970s | 105.18 million | 97.48 million | 113.86 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 126.61 million | 116.10 million | 137.51 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 152.13 million | 140.01 million | 164.94 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 182.42 million | 167.90 million | 197.63 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 216.81 million | 201.14 million | 231.70 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 241.19 million | 234.51 million | 247.88 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near Africa Western and Central
More agriculture & rural data for Africa Western and Central
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.2193 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population 46.5% (2025)
- Rural population growth 1.0% (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 11.3 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added 21.9% (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added 186.96 billion current US$ (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 0.7% (2023)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 4.2% (2023)
- Rural population, per capita 0.4652 units per person (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0.0003 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is rural population in Africa Western and Central?
- Rural population in Africa Western and Central was 247.88 million in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest rural population recorded in Africa Western and Central?
- The highest recorded value was 247.88 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest rural population recorded in Africa Western and Central?
- The lowest recorded value was 84.01 million in 1960.
- How does Africa Western and Central rank for rural population?
- Africa Western and Central ranks 31st out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is rural population rising or falling in Africa Western and Central?
- Over the last ten years it is up 13.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Africa Western and Central data come from?
- The figures come from World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN), published as part of Rural population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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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. Aggregation of urban and rural population may not add up to total population because of different country coverages.