Sub-Saharan Africa Rural Population 1960-2023
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.
- Sub-Saharan Africa rural population for 2021 was 678,421,501, a 1.65% increase from 2020.
- Sub-Saharan Africa rural population for 2020 was 667,403,145, a 1.69% increase from 2019.
- Sub-Saharan Africa rural population for 2019 was 656,284,564, a 1.74% increase from 2018.
- Sub-Saharan Africa rural population for 2018 was 645,082,160, a 1.78% increase from 2017.
| Similar Country Ranking |
| Country Name |
Rural Population |
| World |
3,401,483,101 |
| South Asia |
1,214,195,771 |
| East Asia & Pacific |
912,424,958 |
| Sub-Saharan Africa |
678,421,501 |
| OECD members |
258,158,568 |
| Latin America & Caribbean |
122,600,284 |
| European Union |
110,874,382 |
| Euro Area |
76,394,998 |
| North America |
63,860,455 |
| Sub-Saharan Africa Rural Population - Historical Data |
| Year |
Population |
% of Total |
Change |
| 2021 |
678,421,501 |
58.21 |
1.65% |
| 2020 |
667,403,145 |
58.75 |
1.69% |
| 2019 |
656,284,564 |
59.29 |
1.74% |
| 2018 |
645,082,160 |
59.82 |
1.78% |
| 2017 |
633,827,247 |
60.36 |
1.81% |
| 2016 |
622,554,717 |
60.88 |
1.84% |
| 2015 |
611,300,372 |
61.41 |
1.87% |
| 2014 |
600,085,039 |
61.93 |
1.90% |
| 2013 |
588,918,185 |
62.45 |
1.92% |
| 2012 |
577,825,972 |
62.96 |
1.93% |
| 2011 |
566,871,186 |
63.48 |
1.92% |
| 2010 |
556,190,122 |
64.00 |
1.93% |
| 2009 |
545,633,339 |
64.52 |
1.95% |
| 2008 |
535,197,720 |
65.03 |
1.96% |
| 2007 |
524,930,681 |
65.54 |
2.09% |
| 2006 |
514,207,041 |
65.96 |
2.01% |
| 2005 |
504,083,411 |
66.42 |
1.99% |
| 2004 |
494,263,866 |
66.88 |
1.99% |
| 2003 |
484,619,946 |
67.33 |
1.99% |
| 2002 |
475,180,138 |
67.78 |
1.99% |
| 2001 |
465,910,365 |
68.22 |
2.01% |
| 2000 |
456,723,112 |
68.65 |
2.11% |
| 1999 |
447,264,412 |
69.01 |
2.12% |
| 1998 |
437,959,696 |
69.36 |
2.13% |
| 1997 |
428,817,855 |
69.72 |
2.13% |
| 1996 |
419,884,525 |
70.09 |
2.15% |
| 1995 |
411,053,936 |
70.46 |
2.15% |
| 1994 |
402,389,255 |
70.83 |
2.15% |
| 1993 |
393,934,322 |
71.23 |
2.09% |
| 1992 |
385,862,117 |
71.69 |
2.10% |
| 1991 |
377,909,208 |
72.16 |
2.13% |
| 1990 |
370,045,047 |
72.64 |
2.05% |
| 1989 |
362,610,089 |
73.19 |
2.12% |
| 1988 |
355,069,452 |
73.73 |
2.15% |
| 1987 |
347,599,508 |
74.27 |
2.17% |
| 1986 |
340,221,448 |
74.80 |
2.17% |
| 1985 |
332,991,124 |
75.34 |
2.19% |
| 1984 |
325,843,873 |
75.86 |
2.24% |
| 1983 |
318,691,320 |
76.35 |
2.29% |
| 1982 |
311,565,441 |
76.80 |
2.32% |
| 1981 |
304,515,233 |
77.23 |
2.33% |
| 1980 |
297,586,175 |
77.66 |
2.40% |
| 1979 |
290,606,964 |
78.04 |
2.37% |
| 1978 |
283,869,581 |
78.43 |
2.29% |
| 1977 |
277,502,694 |
78.88 |
2.29% |
| 1976 |
271,296,765 |
79.32 |
2.26% |
| 1975 |
265,308,426 |
79.77 |
2.25% |
| 1974 |
259,468,356 |
80.21 |
2.24% |
| 1973 |
253,788,763 |
80.63 |
2.21% |
| 1972 |
248,309,498 |
81.05 |
2.18% |
| 1971 |
243,015,312 |
81.47 |
2.16% |
| 1970 |
237,868,126 |
81.87 |
2.17% |
| 1969 |
232,814,467 |
82.24 |
2.12% |
| 1968 |
227,980,014 |
82.62 |
2.10% |
| 1967 |
223,291,987 |
82.99 |
2.08% |
| 1966 |
218,733,053 |
83.34 |
2.07% |
| 1965 |
214,291,909 |
83.69 |
2.05% |
| 1964 |
209,991,391 |
84.04 |
2.04% |
| 1963 |
205,794,567 |
84.38 |
2.03% |
| 1962 |
201,696,376 |
84.70 |
2.02% |
| 1961 |
197,703,744 |
85.01 |
1.99% |
| 1960 |
193,852,373 |
85.31 |
% |
