Population in the largest city in Africa Eastern and Southern
Africa Eastern and Southern: Population in the largest city was 28.5% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Population in the largest city in Africa Eastern and Southern, 1960–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN). Measured in % of urban population.
Analysis
The most recent figure for population in the largest city in Africa Eastern and Southern is 28.5%, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.2% on the previous year and up 1.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population in the largest city in Africa Eastern and Southern peaked at 28.5% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 23.7%, in 1960.
That places Africa Eastern and Southern 5th out of 43 groups with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 66 years of available data.
Population in the largest city in Africa Eastern and Southern, year by year
| Year | % of urban population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 23.7% | — |
| 1961 | 24.0% | +1.2% |
| 1962 | 24.3% | +1.3% |
| 1963 | 24.6% | +1.2% |
| 1964 | 24.9% | +1.3% |
| 1965 | 25.2% | +1.4% |
| 1966 | 25.6% | +1.4% |
| 1967 | 25.9% | +1.4% |
| 1968 | 26.3% | +1.4% |
| 1969 | 26.6% | +1.2% |
| 1970 | 26.8% | +0.8% |
| 1971 | 26.9% | +0.3% |
| 1972 | 27.0% | +0.2% |
| 1973 | 27.0% | +0.1% |
| 1974 | 26.9% | -0.1% |
| 1975 | 26.9% | -0.0% |
| 1976 | 26.9% | -0.1% |
| 1977 | 27.0% | +0.1% |
| 1978 | 27.0% | +0.1% |
| 1979 | 26.9% | -0.1% |
| 1980 | 27.0% | +0.2% |
| 1981 | 27.0% | +0.1% |
| 1982 | 27.1% | +0.1% |
| 1983 | 27.1% | +0.3% |
| 1984 | 27.3% | +0.5% |
| 1985 | 27.3% | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 27.3% | -0.1% |
| 1987 | 27.2% | -0.2% |
| 1988 | 27.2% | -0.0% |
| 1989 | 27.2% | +0.1% |
| 1990 | 27.3% | +0.2% |
| 1991 | 27.5% | +0.7% |
| 1992 | 27.7% | +0.9% |
| 1993 | 27.8% | +0.5% |
| 1994 | 27.8% | -0.2% |
| 1995 | 27.8% | -0.0% |
| 1996 | 27.9% | +0.4% |
| 1997 | 28.1% | +0.5% |
| 1998 | 28.1% | +0.2% |
| 1999 | 28.1% | -0.0% |
| 2000 | 28.1% | -0.1% |
| 2001 | 28.1% | -0.1% |
| 2002 | 28.0% | -0.2% |
| 2003 | 27.9% | -0.3% |
| 2004 | 27.8% | -0.4% |
| 2005 | 27.7% | -0.4% |
| 2006 | 27.6% | -0.3% |
| 2007 | 27.3% | -1.0% |
| 2008 | 27.3% | -0.1% |
| 2009 | 27.4% | +0.2% |
| 2010 | 27.5% | +0.4% |
| 2011 | 27.6% | +0.5% |
| 2012 | 27.7% | +0.5% |
| 2013 | 27.8% | +0.4% |
| 2014 | 28.0% | +0.5% |
| 2015 | 28.0% | +0.2% |
| 2016 | 28.1% | +0.3% |
| 2017 | 28.2% | +0.3% |
| 2018 | 28.2% | -0.0% |
| 2019 | 28.2% | +0.1% |
| 2020 | 28.2% | +0.1% |
| 2021 | 28.3% | +0.1% |
| 2022 | 28.3% | +0.1% |
| 2023 | 28.4% | +0.3% |
| 2024 | 28.5% | +0.2% |
| 2025 | 28.5% | +0.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 25.1% | 23.7% | 26.6% | 10 |
| 1970s | 26.9% | 26.8% | 27.0% | 10 |
| 1980s | 27.2% | 27.0% | 27.3% | 10 |
| 1990s | 27.8% | 27.3% | 28.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 27.7% | 27.3% | 28.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 27.9% | 27.5% | 28.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 28.4% | 28.2% | 28.5% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Africa Eastern and Southern
- 4 Eritrea 92.5% compare
- 5 Puerto Rico 81.0% compare
- 6 Trinidad and Tobago 74.0% compare
- 7 Paraguay 73.5% compare
- 8 Djibouti 71.3% compare
More urban development data for Africa Eastern and Southern
- Population density 50.51 people per sq. km of land area (2023)
- PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure 25.28 micrograms per cubic meter (2023)
- PM2.5 air pollution, population exposed to levels exceeding WHO 100.0% (2017)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population in the largest city in Africa Eastern and Southern?
- Population in the largest city in Africa Eastern and Southern was 28.5% in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest population in the largest city recorded in Africa Eastern and Southern?
- The highest recorded value was 28.5% in 2025.
- What is the lowest population in the largest city recorded in Africa Eastern and Southern?
- The lowest recorded value was 23.7% in 1960.
- How does Africa Eastern and Southern rank for population in the largest city?
- Africa Eastern and Southern ranks 5th out of 43 groups with data for 2025.
- Is population in the largest city rising or falling in Africa Eastern and Southern?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Africa Eastern and Southern data come from?
- The figures come from World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN), published as part of Population in the largest city (% of urban population). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Population in largest city is the percentage of a country's urban population living in that country's largest metropolitan area.