Population density in Africa Western and Central
Africa Western and Central: Population density was 56.19 people per sq. km of land area in 2023. ▲ Rising
Population density in Africa Western and Central, 1961–2023
Source: FAO population estimates, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), publisher: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Measured in people per sq. km of land area.
Analysis
In 2023, population density in Africa Western and Central stood at 56.19 people per sq. km of land area. That is the highest value across all 63 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.4% on the previous year and up 28.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population density in Africa Western and Central peaked at 56.19 people per sq. km of land area in 2023 and was at its lowest, 11.02 people per sq. km of land area, in 1961.
Africa Western and Central ranks 24th of 47 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 63 years of available data.
Population density in Africa Western and Central, year by year
| Year | people per sq. km of land area | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 11.02 people per sq. km of land area | — |
| 1962 | 11.26 people per sq. km of land area | +2.2% |
| 1963 | 11.51 people per sq. km of land area | +2.2% |
| 1964 | 11.76 people per sq. km of land area | +2.2% |
| 1965 | 12.02 people per sq. km of land area | +2.2% |
| 1966 | 12.29 people per sq. km of land area | +2.3% |
| 1967 | 12.57 people per sq. km of land area | +2.3% |
| 1968 | 12.86 people per sq. km of land area | +2.3% |
| 1969 | 13.16 people per sq. km of land area | +2.4% |
| 1970 | 13.48 people per sq. km of land area | +2.4% |
| 1971 | 13.81 people per sq. km of land area | +2.4% |
| 1972 | 14.16 people per sq. km of land area | +2.5% |
| 1973 | 14.52 people per sq. km of land area | +2.6% |
| 1974 | 14.9 people per sq. km of land area | +2.6% |
| 1975 | 15.31 people per sq. km of land area | +2.7% |
| 1976 | 15.72 people per sq. km of land area | +2.7% |
| 1977 | 16.16 people per sq. km of land area | +2.8% |
| 1978 | 16.61 people per sq. km of land area | +2.8% |
| 1979 | 17.09 people per sq. km of land area | +2.9% |
| 1980 | 17.58 people per sq. km of land area | +2.9% |
| 1981 | 18.09 people per sq. km of land area | +2.9% |
| 1982 | 18.62 people per sq. km of land area | +2.9% |
| 1983 | 19.13 people per sq. km of land area | +2.8% |
| 1984 | 19.64 people per sq. km of land area | +2.7% |
| 1985 | 20.18 people per sq. km of land area | +2.8% |
| 1986 | 20.74 people per sq. km of land area | +2.8% |
| 1987 | 21.32 people per sq. km of land area | +2.8% |
| 1988 | 21.91 people per sq. km of land area | +2.8% |
| 1989 | 22.53 people per sq. km of land area | +2.8% |
| 1990 | 23.14 people per sq. km of land area | +2.7% |
| 1991 | 23.76 people per sq. km of land area | +2.7% |
| 1992 | 24.42 people per sq. km of land area | +2.8% |
| 1993 | 25.09 people per sq. km of land area | +2.7% |
| 1994 | 25.76 people per sq. km of land area | +2.7% |
| 1995 | 26.48 people per sq. km of land area | +2.8% |
| 1996 | 27.21 people per sq. km of land area | +2.8% |
| 1997 | 27.96 people per sq. km of land area | +2.8% |
| 1998 | 28.74 people per sq. km of land area | +2.8% |
| 1999 | 29.54 people per sq. km of land area | +2.8% |
| 2000 | 30.36 people per sq. km of land area | +2.8% |
| 2001 | 31.22 people per sq. km of land area | +2.8% |
| 2002 | 32.11 people per sq. km of land area | +2.8% |
| 2003 | 33.03 people per sq. km of land area | +2.9% |
| 2004 | 33.97 people per sq. km of land area | +2.9% |
| 2005 | 34.95 people per sq. km of land area | +2.9% |
| 2006 | 35.95 people per sq. km of land area | +2.9% |
| 2007 | 36.98 people per sq. km of land area | +2.9% |
| 2008 | 38.05 people per sq. km of land area | +2.9% |
| 2009 | 39.13 people per sq. km of land area | +2.8% |
| 2010 | 40.23 people per sq. km of land area | +2.8% |
| 2011 | 41.39 people per sq. km of land area | +2.9% |
| 2012 | 42.55 people per sq. km of land area | +2.8% |
| 2013 | 43.73 people per sq. km of land area | +2.8% |
| 2014 | 44.93 people per sq. km of land area | +2.8% |
| 2015 | 46.16 people per sq. km of land area | +2.7% |
| 2016 | 47.4 people per sq. km of land area | +2.7% |
| 2017 | 48.66 people per sq. km of land area | +2.6% |
| 2018 | 49.9 people per sq. km of land area | +2.6% |
| 2019 | 51.13 people per sq. km of land area | +2.5% |
| 2020 | 52.37 people per sq. km of land area | +2.4% |
| 2021 | 53.61 people per sq. km of land area | +2.4% |
| 2022 | 54.87 people per sq. km of land area | +2.3% |
| 2023 | 56.19 people per sq. km of land area | +2.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 12.05 people per sq. km of land area | 11.02 people per sq. km of land area | 13.16 people per sq. km of land area | 9 |
| 1970s | 15.18 people per sq. km of land area | 13.48 people per sq. km of land area | 17.09 people per sq. km of land area | 10 |
| 1980s | 19.97 people per sq. km of land area | 17.58 people per sq. km of land area | 22.53 people per sq. km of land area | 10 |
| 1990s | 26.21 people per sq. km of land area | 23.14 people per sq. km of land area | 29.54 people per sq. km of land area | 10 |
| 2000s | 34.57 people per sq. km of land area | 30.36 people per sq. km of land area | 39.13 people per sq. km of land area | 10 |
| 2010s | 45.61 people per sq. km of land area | 40.23 people per sq. km of land area | 51.13 people per sq. km of land area | 10 |
| 2020s | 54.26 people per sq. km of land area | 52.37 people per sq. km of land area | 56.19 people per sq. km of land area | 4 |
Countries ranked near Africa Western and Central
- 21 Saint Martin (French Part) 550.3 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 22 Burundi 533.08 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 23 Netherlands 530.95 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 24 Republic of Korea 529.84 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 25 India 483.68 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 26 Comoros 456.95 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 27 Israel 455.13 people per sq. km of land area compare
More urban development data for Africa Western and Central
- Population in the largest city 22.1% (2025)
- PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure 50.42 micrograms per cubic meter (2023)
- PM2.5 air pollution, population exposed to levels exceeding WHO 100.0% (2017)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population density in Africa Western and Central?
- Population density in Africa Western and Central was 56.19 people per sq. km of land area in 2023, according to FAO population estimates, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), publisher: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
- What is the highest population density recorded in Africa Western and Central?
- The highest recorded value was 56.19 people per sq. km of land area in 2023.
- What is the lowest population density recorded in Africa Western and Central?
- The lowest recorded value was 11.02 people per sq. km of land area in 1961.
- How does Africa Western and Central rank for population density?
- Africa Western and Central ranks 24th out of 47 groups with data for 2023.
- Is population density rising or falling in Africa Western and Central?
- Over the last ten years it is up 28.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Africa Western and Central data come from?
- The figures come from FAO population estimates, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), publisher: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), published as part of Population density (people per sq. km of land area). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Population density is midyear population divided by land area in square kilometers. Population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship--except for refugees not permanently settled in the country of asylum, who are generally considered part of the population of their country of origin. Land area is a country's total area, excluding area under inland water bodies, national claims to continental shelf, and exclusive economic zones. In most cases the definition of inland water bodies includes major rivers and lakes.