Population in the largest city in Africa Western and Central
Africa Western and Central: Population in the largest city was 22.1% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Population in the largest city in Africa Western and Central, 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 Western and Central is 22.1%, measured in 2025.
The figure is up 0.1% on the previous year and down 0.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population in the largest city in Africa Western and Central peaked at 26.8% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 21.9%, in 1960.
That places Africa Western and Central 16th out of 43 groups with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 66 years of available data.
Population in the largest city in Africa Western and Central, year by year
| Year | % of urban population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 21.9% | — |
| 1961 | 22.3% | +1.9% |
| 1962 | 22.7% | +1.7% |
| 1963 | 23.0% | +1.4% |
| 1964 | 23.2% | +0.8% |
| 1965 | 23.3% | +0.4% |
| 1966 | 23.4% | +0.5% |
| 1967 | 23.5% | +0.6% |
| 1968 | 23.7% | +0.8% |
| 1969 | 24.0% | +1.0% |
| 1970 | 24.2% | +1.1% |
| 1971 | 24.5% | +1.1% |
| 1972 | 24.9% | +1.7% |
| 1973 | 25.2% | +1.3% |
| 1974 | 25.5% | +1.0% |
| 1975 | 25.8% | +1.1% |
| 1976 | 26.0% | +0.9% |
| 1977 | 26.2% | +0.6% |
| 1978 | 26.2% | +0.3% |
| 1979 | 26.2% | -0.3% |
| 1980 | 26.1% | -0.3% |
| 1981 | 26.0% | -0.3% |
| 1982 | 26.0% | -0.1% |
| 1983 | 26.0% | +0.2% |
| 1984 | 26.2% | +0.5% |
| 1985 | 26.3% | +0.5% |
| 1986 | 26.5% | +0.6% |
| 1987 | 26.5% | +0.3% |
| 1988 | 26.7% | +0.5% |
| 1989 | 26.7% | +0.3% |
| 1990 | 26.8% | +0.1% |
| 1991 | 26.8% | +0.4% |
| 1992 | 26.4% | -1.5% |
| 1993 | 26.0% | -1.7% |
| 1994 | 25.6% | -1.4% |
| 1995 | 25.3% | -1.2% |
| 1996 | 25.6% | +1.0% |
| 1997 | 25.4% | -0.8% |
| 1998 | 25.2% | -0.8% |
| 1999 | 25.0% | -0.7% |
| 2000 | 24.9% | -0.3% |
| 2001 | 24.8% | -0.4% |
| 2002 | 24.7% | -0.4% |
| 2003 | 24.6% | -0.4% |
| 2004 | 24.5% | -0.4% |
| 2005 | 24.2% | -1.1% |
| 2006 | 23.9% | -1.2% |
| 2007 | 23.6% | -1.3% |
| 2008 | 23.4% | -1.2% |
| 2009 | 23.1% | -0.9% |
| 2010 | 22.9% | -0.9% |
| 2011 | 22.7% | -0.9% |
| 2012 | 22.6% | -0.6% |
| 2013 | 22.5% | -0.6% |
| 2014 | 22.3% | -0.5% |
| 2015 | 22.3% | -0.4% |
| 2016 | 22.2% | -0.3% |
| 2017 | 22.1% | -0.2% |
| 2018 | 22.1% | -0.1% |
| 2019 | 22.1% | -0.2% |
| 2020 | 22.0% | -0.1% |
| 2021 | 22.0% | -0.1% |
| 2022 | 22.0% | -0.0% |
| 2023 | 22.0% | -0.0% |
| 2024 | 22.0% | +0.1% |
| 2025 | 22.1% | +0.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 23.1% | 21.9% | 24.0% | 10 |
| 1970s | 25.5% | 24.2% | 26.2% | 10 |
| 1980s | 26.3% | 26.0% | 26.7% | 10 |
| 1990s | 25.8% | 25.0% | 26.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 24.2% | 23.1% | 24.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 22.4% | 22.1% | 22.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 22.0% | 22.0% | 22.1% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Africa Western and Central
- 13 Guinea-Bissau 67.6% compare
- 14 Liberia 55.8% compare
- 15 Togo 55.3% compare
- 16 Uruguay 55.2% compare
- 17 North Macedonia 54.2% compare
- 18 Armenia 54.1% compare
- 19 Burkina Faso 50.6% compare
More urban development data for Africa Western and Central
- Population density 56.19 people per sq. km of land area (2023)
- 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 in the largest city in Africa Western and Central?
- Population in the largest city in Africa Western and Central was 22.1% in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest population in the largest city recorded in Africa Western and Central?
- The highest recorded value was 26.8% in 1991.
- What is the lowest population in the largest city recorded in Africa Western and Central?
- The lowest recorded value was 21.9% in 1960.
- How does Africa Western and Central rank for population in the largest city?
- Africa Western and Central ranks 16th out of 43 groups with data for 2025.
- Is population in the largest city rising or falling in Africa Western and Central?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Africa Western and Central 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.