Rural population density in Africa
Africa: Rural population density was 444.11 rural population per sq. km of arable land in 2011. ▲ Rising
Latest (2011)
444.11 rural population per sq. km of arable land
Change on year
up 1.3%
Rank
2nd
of 6 groups
All-time high
444.69 rural population per sq. km of arable land
in 2007
All-time low
225.49 rural population per sq. km of arable land
in 1961
Years of data
51
1961–2011
Rural population density in Africa, 1961–2011
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization and World Bank population estimates. Measured in rural population per sq. km of arable land.
Analysis
The most recent figure for rural population density in Africa is 444.11 rural population per sq. km of arable land, measured in 2011.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.3% on the previous year and up 7.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, rural population density in Africa peaked at 444.69 rural population per sq. km of arable land in 2007 and was at its lowest, 225.49 rural population per sq. km of arable land, in 1961.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 51 years of available data.
Rural population density in Africa, year by year
| Year | rural population per sq. km of arable land | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 225.49 rural population per sq. km of arable land | — |
| 1962 | 229.44 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +1.8% |
| 1963 | 231.28 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +0.8% |
| 1964 | 233.68 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +1.0% |
| 1965 | 232.54 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -0.5% |
| 1966 | 234.26 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +0.7% |
| 1967 | 237.66 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +1.5% |
| 1968 | 241.07 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +1.4% |
| 1969 | 242.25 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +0.5% |
| 1970 | 245.32 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +1.3% |
| 1971 | 248.06 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +1.1% |
| 1972 | 251.93 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +1.6% |
| 1973 | 256.46 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +1.8% |
| 1974 | 260.85 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +1.7% |
| 1975 | 263.61 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +1.1% |
| 1976 | 270.52 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +2.6% |
| 1977 | 278.99 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +3.1% |
| 1978 | 286.26 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +2.6% |
| 1979 | 295.99 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +3.4% |
| 1980 | 303.51 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +2.5% |
| 1981 | 309.21 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +1.9% |
| 1982 | 314.59 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +1.7% |
| 1983 | 320.79 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +2.0% |
| 1984 | 326.26 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +1.7% |
| 1985 | 327.89 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +0.5% |
| 1986 | 335.01 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +2.2% |
| 1987 | 344.49 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +2.8% |
| 1988 | 350.77 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +1.8% |
| 1989 | 358.81 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +2.3% |
| 1990 | 367.82 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +2.5% |
| 1991 | 374.9 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +1.9% |
| 1992 | 369.1 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -1.5% |
| 1993 | 365.62 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -0.9% |
| 1994 | 373.1 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +2.0% |
| 1995 | 379.44 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +1.7% |
| 1996 | 389.69 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +2.7% |
| 1997 | 395 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +1.4% |
| 1998 | 400.5 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +1.4% |
| 1999 | 400.67 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 415.93 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +3.8% |
| 2001 | 413.52 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -0.6% |
| 2002 | 420.34 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +1.6% |
| 2003 | 418.43 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -0.5% |
| 2004 | 421.46 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +0.7% |
| 2005 | 435.68 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +3.4% |
| 2006 | 435.75 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 444.69 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +2.0% |
| 2008 | 440.42 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -1.0% |
| 2009 | 434.29 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -1.4% |
| 2010 | 438.47 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +1.0% |
| 2011 | 444.11 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +1.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 234.19 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 225.49 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 242.25 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 9 |
| 1970s | 265.8 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 245.32 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 295.99 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 10 |
| 1980s | 329.13 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 303.51 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 358.81 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 10 |
| 1990s | 381.58 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 365.62 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 400.67 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 10 |
| 2000s | 428.05 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 413.52 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 444.69 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 10 |
| 2010s | 441.29 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 438.47 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 444.11 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 2 |
Countries ranked near Africa
- 1 Djibouti 10,378 rural population per sq. km of arable land compare
- 2 Seychelles 3,988 rural population per sq. km of arable land compare
- 3 Egypt 1,624 rural population per sq. km of arable land compare
- 4 Mauritius 959.63 rural population per sq. km of arable land compare
- 5 Burundi 830.23 rural population per sq. km of arable land compare
More environment data for Africa
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -7.12 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -7.93 Percentage change (2025)
- Temperature change 1.32 °C (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.213 °C (2025)
- Sawlogs and veneer logs, non-coniferous — Production 29.81 million m3 (2024)
- Industrial roundwood — Export value 652,409 1000 USD (2024)
- Industrial roundwood, non-coniferous — Production 66.41 million m3 (2024)
- Wood charcoal — Production 38.75 million t (2024)
- Other industrial roundwood, non-coniferous (production) — Production 26.92 million m3 (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is rural population density in Africa?
- Rural population density in Africa was 444.11 rural population per sq. km of arable land in 2011, according to Food and Agriculture Organization and World Bank population estimates.
- What is the highest rural population density recorded in Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 444.69 rural population per sq. km of arable land in 2007.
- What is the lowest rural population density recorded in Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 225.49 rural population per sq. km of arable land in 1961.
- How does Africa rank for rural population density?
- Africa ranks 2nd out of 6 groups with data for 2011.
- Is rural population density rising or falling in Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 7.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization and World Bank population estimates, published as part of Rural population density (rural population per sq. km of arable land). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Rural population density is the rural population divided by the arable land area. Rural population is calculated as the difference between the total population and the urban population. Arable land includes land defined by the FAO as land under temporary crops (double-cropped areas are counted once), temporary meadows for mowing or for pasture, land under market or kitchen gardens, and land temporarily fallow. Land abandoned as a result of shifting cultivation is excluded.