Urban population, female in Sub-Saharan Africa

Sub-Saharan Africa: Urban population, female was 18.7% in 2015. ▲ Rising

Latest (2015)
18.7%
Rank
34th
of 47 groups
All-time high
18.7%
in 2015
All-time low
11.0%
in 1980
Years of data
8
1980–2015

Urban population, female in Sub-Saharan Africa, 1980–2015

051015201980199720151980: 11 % of total1985: 12.1 % of total1990: 13.5 % of total1995: 14.5 % of total2000: 15.2 % of total2005: 16.3 % of total2010: 17.4 % of total2015: 18.7 % of total

Source: The United Nations Population Division's World Urbanization Prospects. Measured in % of total.

Analysis

The most recent figure for urban population, female in Sub-Saharan Africa is 18.7%, measured in 2015. That is the highest value across all 8 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 14.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, urban population, female in Sub-Saharan Africa peaked at 18.7% in 2015 and was at its lowest, 11.0%, in 1980.

Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 34th of 47 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.

Urban population, female in Sub-Saharan Africa, year by year

Annual values for Urban population, female (% of total) in Sub-Saharan Africa, 1980 to 2015.
Year % of total Change
1980 11.0%
1985 12.1% +10.5%
1990 13.5% +11.2%
1995 14.5% +7.4%
2000 15.2% +5.5%
2005 16.3% +6.7%
2010 17.4% +7.2%
2015 18.7% +7.1%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 11.5% 11.0% 12.1% 2
1990s 14.0% 13.5% 14.5% 2
2000s 15.8% 15.2% 16.3% 2
2010s 18.1% 17.4% 18.7% 2

Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa

  1. 31 France 41.3% compare
  2. 32 Belarus 41.2% compare
  3. 33 Jordan 41.0% compare
  4. 34 Mexico 41.0% compare
  5. 35 Norway 40.6% compare
  6. 36 Spain 40.5% compare
  7. 37 Russian Federation 40.3% compare

See the full ranking of 241 places →

More gender data for Sub-Saharan Africa

All data for Sub-Saharan Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is urban population, female in Sub-Saharan Africa?
Urban population, female in Sub-Saharan Africa was 18.7% in 2015, according to The United Nations Population Division's World Urbanization Prospects.
What is the highest urban population, female recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
The highest recorded value was 18.7% in 2015.
What is the lowest urban population, female recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 11.0% in 1980.
How does Sub-Saharan Africa rank for urban population, female?
Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 34th out of 47 groups with data for 2015.
Is urban population, female rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 14.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Sub-Saharan Africa data come from?
The figures come from The United Nations Population Division's World Urbanization Prospects, published as part of Urban population, female (% of total). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Urban population, female in Sub-Saharan Africa. Statizoid, drawing on The United Nations Population Division's World Urbanization Prospects. Retrieved 10 September 2026, from https://gender.statizoid.com/stat/urban-population-female-percent-of-total/sub-saharan-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Urban population, female (% of total)
Unit
% of total
Source
The United Nations Population Division's World Urbanization Prospects
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
241 places, 1,928 data points, 1980–2015
Last refreshed

Female urban population is the percentage of females who live in urban areas to total population.