Population density in Sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa: Population density was 52.66 people per sq. km of land area in 2023. ▲ Rising
Population density in Sub-Saharan Africa, 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 Sub-Saharan Africa stood at 52.66 people per sq. km of land area. That is the highest value across all 63 years on record.
The figure is up 2.5% on the previous year and up 29.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population density in Sub-Saharan Africa peaked at 52.66 people per sq. km of land area in 2023 and was at its lowest, 11.58 people per sq. km of land area, in 1961.
Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 26th 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 Sub-Saharan Africa, year by year
| Year | people per sq. km of land area | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 11.58 people per sq. km of land area | — |
| 1962 | 11.87 people per sq. km of land area | +2.5% |
| 1963 | 12.17 people per sq. km of land area | +2.5% |
| 1964 | 12.48 people per sq. km of land area | +2.6% |
| 1965 | 12.8 people per sq. km of land area | +2.6% |
| 1966 | 13.13 people per sq. km of land area | +2.6% |
| 1967 | 13.48 people per sq. km of land area | +2.6% |
| 1968 | 13.83 people per sq. km of land area | +2.7% |
| 1969 | 14.21 people per sq. km of land area | +2.7% |
| 1970 | 14.6 people per sq. km of land area | +2.7% |
| 1971 | 14.99 people per sq. km of land area | +2.7% |
| 1972 | 15.4 people per sq. km of land area | +2.7% |
| 1973 | 15.83 people per sq. km of land area | +2.8% |
| 1974 | 16.28 people per sq. km of land area | +2.9% |
| 1975 | 16.75 people per sq. km of land area | +2.9% |
| 1976 | 17.23 people per sq. km of land area | +2.9% |
| 1977 | 17.72 people per sq. km of land area | +2.8% |
| 1978 | 18.24 people per sq. km of land area | +3.0% |
| 1979 | 18.8 people per sq. km of land area | +3.1% |
| 1980 | 19.36 people per sq. km of land area | +3.0% |
| 1981 | 19.94 people per sq. km of land area | +3.0% |
| 1982 | 20.57 people per sq. km of land area | +3.1% |
| 1983 | 21.19 people per sq. km of land area | +3.0% |
| 1984 | 21.8 people per sq. km of land area | +2.9% |
| 1985 | 22.44 people per sq. km of land area | +2.9% |
| 1986 | 23.1 people per sq. km of land area | +2.9% |
| 1987 | 23.78 people per sq. km of land area | +2.9% |
| 1988 | 24.46 people per sq. km of land area | +2.9% |
| 1989 | 25.16 people per sq. km of land area | +2.8% |
| 1990 | 25.87 people per sq. km of land area | +2.8% |
| 1991 | 26.58 people per sq. km of land area | +2.7% |
| 1992 | 27.31 people per sq. km of land area | +2.7% |
| 1993 | 26.61 people per sq. km of land area | -2.5% |
| 1994 | 27.33 people per sq. km of land area | +2.7% |
| 1995 | 28.06 people per sq. km of land area | +2.7% |
| 1996 | 28.82 people per sq. km of land area | +2.7% |
| 1997 | 29.59 people per sq. km of land area | +2.7% |
| 1998 | 30.39 people per sq. km of land area | +2.7% |
| 1999 | 31.21 people per sq. km of land area | +2.7% |
| 2000 | 32.05 people per sq. km of land area | +2.7% |
| 2001 | 32.92 people per sq. km of land area | +2.7% |
| 2002 | 33.81 people per sq. km of land area | +2.7% |
| 2003 | 34.74 people per sq. km of land area | +2.7% |
| 2004 | 35.45 people per sq. km of land area | +2.0% |
| 2005 | 36.43 people per sq. km of land area | +2.8% |
| 2006 | 37.44 people per sq. km of land area | +2.8% |
| 2007 | 38.48 people per sq. km of land area | +2.8% |
| 2008 | 39.56 people per sq. km of land area | +2.8% |
| 2009 | 40.67 people per sq. km of land area | +2.8% |
| 2010 | 41.81 people per sq. km of land area | +2.8% |
| 2011 | 42.97 people per sq. km of land area | +2.8% |
| 2012 | 39.53 people per sq. km of land area | -8.0% |
| 2013 | 40.63 people per sq. km of land area | +2.8% |
| 2014 | 41.75 people per sq. km of land area | +2.7% |
| 2015 | 42.89 people per sq. km of land area | +2.7% |
| 2016 | 44.03 people per sq. km of land area | +2.7% |
| 2017 | 45.2 people per sq. km of land area | +2.7% |
| 2018 | 46.41 people per sq. km of land area | +2.7% |
| 2019 | 47.63 people per sq. km of land area | +2.6% |
| 2020 | 48.87 people per sq. km of land area | +2.6% |
| 2021 | 50.12 people per sq. km of land area | +2.6% |
| 2022 | 51.38 people per sq. km of land area | +2.5% |
| 2023 | 52.66 people per sq. km of land area | +2.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 12.84 people per sq. km of land area | 11.58 people per sq. km of land area | 14.21 people per sq. km of land area | 9 |
| 1970s | 16.58 people per sq. km of land area | 14.6 people per sq. km of land area | 18.8 people per sq. km of land area | 10 |
| 1980s | 22.18 people per sq. km of land area | 19.36 people per sq. km of land area | 25.16 people per sq. km of land area | 10 |
| 1990s | 28.18 people per sq. km of land area | 25.87 people per sq. km of land area | 31.21 people per sq. km of land area | 10 |
| 2000s | 36.16 people per sq. km of land area | 32.05 people per sq. km of land area | 40.67 people per sq. km of land area | 10 |
| 2010s | 43.29 people per sq. km of land area | 39.53 people per sq. km of land area | 47.63 people per sq. km of land area | 10 |
| 2020s | 50.76 people per sq. km of land area | 48.87 people per sq. km of land area | 52.66 people per sq. km of land area | 4 |
Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa
- 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
- 28 Haiti 422.26 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 29 Belgium 386.3 people per sq. km of land area compare
More urban development data for Sub-Saharan Africa
- Population in the largest city 25.4% (2025)
- PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure 35.44 micrograms per cubic meter (2023)
- PM2.5 air pollution, population exposed to levels exceeding WHO 100.0% (2017)
- Dollar value of all resources made available to strengthen 479.49 million current US$ (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population density in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Population density in Sub-Saharan Africa was 52.66 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 Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 52.66 people per sq. km of land area in 2023.
- What is the lowest population density recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 11.58 people per sq. km of land area in 1961.
- How does Sub-Saharan Africa rank for population density?
- Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 26th out of 47 groups with data for 2023.
- Is population density rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 29.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Sub-Saharan Africa 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.