Rural population density in Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa

Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa: Rural population density was 362.56 rural population per sq. km of arable land in 2011. ▲ Rising

Latest (2011)
362.56 rural population per sq. km of arable land
Change on year
up 1.2%
Rank
4th
of 6 groups
All-time high
362.56 rural population per sq. km of arable land
in 2011
All-time low
198.22 rural population per sq. km of arable land
in 1961
Years of data
51
1961–2011

Rural population density in Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa, 1961–2011

0100200300400196119862011

Source: Food and Agriculture Organization and World Bank population estimates. Measured in rural population per sq. km of arable land.

Analysis

In 2011, rural population density in Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa stood at 362.56 rural population per sq. km of arable land. That is the highest value across all 51 years on record.

The figure is up 1.2% on the previous year and up 3.6% over ten years.

Over the whole period, rural population density in Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa peaked at 362.56 rural population per sq. km of arable land in 2011 and was at its lowest, 198.22 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 Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Rural population density (rural population per sq. km of arable land) in Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa, 1961 to 2011.
Year rural population per sq. km of arable land Change
1961 198.22 rural population per sq. km of arable land
1962 199.8 rural population per sq. km of arable land +0.8%
1963 200.07 rural population per sq. km of arable land +0.1%
1964 201.94 rural population per sq. km of arable land +0.9%
1965 203.79 rural population per sq. km of arable land +0.9%
1966 206.82 rural population per sq. km of arable land +1.5%
1967 209.58 rural population per sq. km of arable land +1.3%
1968 211.93 rural population per sq. km of arable land +1.1%
1969 212.66 rural population per sq. km of arable land +0.3%
1970 214.91 rural population per sq. km of arable land +1.1%
1971 217.76 rural population per sq. km of arable land +1.3%
1972 220.14 rural population per sq. km of arable land +1.1%
1973 224.22 rural population per sq. km of arable land +1.9%
1974 227.64 rural population per sq. km of arable land +1.5%
1975 229.24 rural population per sq. km of arable land +0.7%
1976 232.97 rural population per sq. km of arable land +1.6%
1977 237.83 rural population per sq. km of arable land +2.1%
1978 240.59 rural population per sq. km of arable land +1.2%
1979 246.11 rural population per sq. km of arable land +2.3%
1980 251.92 rural population per sq. km of arable land +2.4%
1981 257.07 rural population per sq. km of arable land +2.0%
1982 260.71 rural population per sq. km of arable land +1.4%
1983 265.27 rural population per sq. km of arable land +1.7%
1984 269.26 rural population per sq. km of arable land +1.5%
1985 267.69 rural population per sq. km of arable land -0.6%
1986 273.28 rural population per sq. km of arable land +2.1%
1987 279.33 rural population per sq. km of arable land +2.2%
1988 283.91 rural population per sq. km of arable land +1.6%
1989 289.12 rural population per sq. km of arable land +1.8%
1990 295.82 rural population per sq. km of arable land +2.3%
1991 300.11 rural population per sq. km of arable land +1.5%
1992 304.01 rural population per sq. km of arable land +1.3%
1993 312.06 rural population per sq. km of arable land +2.6%
1994 318.61 rural population per sq. km of arable land +2.1%
1995 322.47 rural population per sq. km of arable land +1.2%
1996 332.87 rural population per sq. km of arable land +3.2%
1997 337.46 rural population per sq. km of arable land +1.4%
1998 341.57 rural population per sq. km of arable land +1.2%
1999 345.53 rural population per sq. km of arable land +1.2%
2000 353.26 rural population per sq. km of arable land +2.2%
2001 350.03 rural population per sq. km of arable land -0.9%
2002 358.61 rural population per sq. km of arable land +2.5%
2003 352.55 rural population per sq. km of arable land -1.7%
2004 355.32 rural population per sq. km of arable land +0.8%
2005 349.4 rural population per sq. km of arable land -1.7%
2006 350.31 rural population per sq. km of arable land +0.3%
2007 355.57 rural population per sq. km of arable land +1.5%
2008 350.39 rural population per sq. km of arable land -1.5%
2009 356.7 rural population per sq. km of arable land +1.8%
2010 358.4 rural population per sq. km of arable land +0.5%
2011 362.56 rural population per sq. km of arable land +1.2%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1960s 204.98 rural population per sq. km of arable land 198.22 rural population per sq. km of arable land 212.66 rural population per sq. km of arable land 9
1970s 229.14 rural population per sq. km of arable land 214.91 rural population per sq. km of arable land 246.11 rural population per sq. km of arable land 10
1980s 269.76 rural population per sq. km of arable land 251.92 rural population per sq. km of arable land 289.12 rural population per sq. km of arable land 10
1990s 321.05 rural population per sq. km of arable land 295.82 rural population per sq. km of arable land 345.53 rural population per sq. km of arable land 10
2000s 353.21 rural population per sq. km of arable land 349.4 rural population per sq. km of arable land 358.61 rural population per sq. km of arable land 10
2010s 360.48 rural population per sq. km of arable land 358.4 rural population per sq. km of arable land 362.56 rural population per sq. km of arable land 2

Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa

  1. 1 Djibouti 10,378 rural population per sq. km of arable land compare
  2. 2 Seychelles 3,988 rural population per sq. km of arable land compare
  3. 3 Egypt 1,624 rural population per sq. km of arable land compare
  4. 4 Mauritius 959.63 rural population per sq. km of arable land compare
  5. 5 Burundi 830.23 rural population per sq. km of arable land compare
  6. 6 Rwanda 725.47 rural population per sq. km of arable land compare
  7. 7 Sao Tome and Principe 723.5 rural population per sq. km of arable land compare

See the full ranking of 59 places →

More environment data for Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa

All data for Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is rural population density in Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa?
Rural population density in Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa was 362.56 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 Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 362.56 rural population per sq. km of arable land in 2011.
What is the lowest rural population density recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 198.22 rural population per sq. km of arable land in 1961.
How does Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa rank for rural population density?
Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa ranks 4th out of 6 groups with data for 2011.
Is rural population density rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 3.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South 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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Rural population density in Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on Food and Agriculture Organization and World Bank population estimates. Retrieved 13 September 2026, from https://environment.statizoid.com/stat/rural-population-density-rural-population-per-sq-km-of-arable-land/sub-saharan-africa-excluding-south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Rural population density (rural population per sq. km of arable land)
Unit
rural population per sq. km of arable land
Source
Food and Agriculture Organization and World Bank population estimates
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
59 places, 2,977 data points, 1961–2011
Last refreshed

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.