In 2023, Burundi and Niger had the highest share of their populations living in rural areas in Africa, with approximately 85 percent and 83 percent, respectively. Rwanda and Malawi followed, each with around 82 percent. In contrast, Gabon and Libya were the countries with lowest share of rural inhabitants on the continent.
Eastern Africa was the region with the highest share of people living in rural areas in Africa. In 2023, almost 70 percent of the population in the region resided in rural areas. On the other hand, some 34 percent of the individuals in Southern Africa lived in rural areas, the lowest on the continent.
Around 803 million people on the African continent lived in rural areas as of 2023. The rural population has been increasing annually. At the beginning of the 21st century, the continent's rural population was nearly 532 million.
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Africa Rural Population Dataset
Dataset Summary
This dataset provides annual rural population counts for 54 African countries from 1960 to 2024.The data originates from the World Bank Development Indicators (indicator code SP.RUR.TOTL) and has been cleaned and re-formatted for machine-learning workflows.
Source & Collection
Original source: World Bank Open Data – Rural population (SP.RUR.TOTL)Data accessed via Excel download and processed on 2025-08-07.… See the full description on the dataset page: https://huggingface.co/datasets/electricsheepafrica/Africa-Rural-Population-Dataset.
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Rural population (% of total population) in South Africa was reported at 30.7 % in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. South Africa - Rural population - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on September of 2025.
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This dataset is about countries in Northern Africa. It has 6 rows. It features 2 columns including rural population.
In 2023, the share of people living in rural areas in Africa dropped to nearly 55 percent. Since the beginning of the 21st century, the share of the rural population in the total population has followed a declining trend. On the other hand, during the same period, the urbanization rate on the continent rose, although it remained below 50 percent.
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Historical dataset showing Africa rural population by year from N/A to N/A.
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Time series data for the statistic Rural population and country Central African Republic. Indicator Definition: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.The indicator "Rural population" stands at 2.98 Million as of 12/31/2024, the highest value at least since 12/31/1961, the period currently displayed. Regarding the One-Year-Change of the series, the current value constitutes an increase of 2.51 percent compared to the value the year prior.The 1 year change in percent is 2.51.The 3 year change in percent is 1.58.The 5 year change in percent is 3.44.The 10 year change in percent is 7.29.The Serie's long term average value is 2.10 Million. It's latest available value, on 12/31/2024, is 42.06 percent higher, compared to it's long term average value.The Serie's change in percent from it's minimum value, on 12/31/1960, to it's latest available value, on 12/31/2024, is +118.96%.The Serie's change in percent from it's maximum value, on 12/31/2024, to it's latest available value, on 12/31/2024, is 0.0%.
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South Africa ZA: Rural Population Growth data was reported at -0.235 % in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of -0.168 % for 2016. South Africa ZA: Rural Population Growth data is updated yearly, averaging 1.217 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 2.679 % in 1972 and a record low of -0.329 % in 2008. South Africa ZA: Rural Population Growth data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s South Africa – Table ZA.World Bank.WDI: Population and Urbanization Statistics. 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.; ; World Bank staff estimates based on the United Nations Population Division's World Urbanization Prospects: 2018 Revision.; Weighted average;
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Historical dataset showing Sub-Saharan Africa rural population by year from 1960 to 2023.
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This horizontal bar chart displays rural population (people) by country using the aggregation sum in Eastern Africa. The data is about countries.
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South Africa ZA: Rural Population data was reported at 19,368,909.000 Person in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 19,414,403.000 Person for 2016. South Africa ZA: Rural Population data is updated yearly, averaging 17,726,563.000 Person from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 19,799,952.000 Person in 2003 and a record low of 9,318,644.000 Person in 1960. South Africa ZA: Rural Population data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s South Africa – Table ZA.World Bank.WDI: Population and Urbanization Statistics. 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.; ; World Bank staff estimates based on the United Nations Population Division's World Urbanization Prospects: 2018 Revision.; Sum;
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Extended family members can help women with childcare. Using data from 32 sub-Saharan African countries, we find that the prevalence of nuclear families relative to extended families is increasing over time. The overall share of nuclear families is 56 percent and is higher in rural areas. We then use detailed time use data on childcare provision from 110 rural villages in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. We find that while women do receive childcare assistance from their extended family, they provide 84 percent of childcare hours. These results highlight the need for formal childcare provision, particularly in rural areas.
The Afrobarometer is a comparative series of public attitude surveys that assess African citizen's attitudes to democracy and governance, markets, and civil society, among other topics. The surveys have been undertaken at periodic intervals since 1999. The Afrobarometer's coverage has increased over time. Round 1 (1999-2001) initially covered 7 countires and was later extended to 12 countries. Round 2 (2002-2004) surveyed citizens in 16 countries. Round 3 (2005-2006) 18 countries, and Round 4 (2008) 20 countries.The survey covered 34 countries in Round 5 (2011-2013), 36 countries in Round 6 (2014-2015), and 34 countries in Round 7 (2016-2018). Round 8 covered 34 African countries. The 34 countries covered in Round 8 (2019-2021) are:
Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, eSwatini, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
The survey has national coverage in the following 34 African countries: Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, eSwatini, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Households and individuals
The sample universe for Afrobarometer surveys includes all citizens of voting age within the country. In other words, we exclude anyone who is not a citizen and anyone who has not attained this age (usually 18 years) on the day of the survey. Also excluded are areas determined to be either inaccessible or not relevant to the study, such as those experiencing armed conflict or natural disasters, as well as national parks and game reserves. As a matter of practice, we have also excluded people living in institutionalized settings, such as students in dormitories and persons in prisons or nursing homes.
Sample survey data
Afrobarometer uses national probability samples designed to meet the following criteria. Samples are designed to generate a sample that is a representative cross-section of all citizens of voting age in a given country. The goal is to give every adult citizen an equal and known chance of being selected for an interview. They achieve this by:
• using random selection methods at every stage of sampling; • sampling at all stages with probability proportionate to population size wherever possible to ensure that larger (i.e., more populated) geographic units have a proportionally greater probability of being chosen into the sample.
The sampling universe normally includes all citizens age 18 and older. As a standard practice, we exclude people living in institutionalised settings, such as students in dormitories, patients in hospitals, and persons in prisons or nursing homes. Occasionally, we must also exclude people living in areas determined to be inaccessible due to conflict or insecurity. Any such exclusion is noted in the technical information report (TIR) that accompanies each data set.
Sample size and design Samples usually include either 1,200 or 2,400 cases. A randomly selected sample of n=1200 cases allows inferences to national adult populations with a margin of sampling error of no more than +/-2.8% with a confidence level of 95 percent. With a sample size of n=2400, the margin of error decreases to +/-2.0% at 95 percent confidence level.
The sample design is a clustered, stratified, multi-stage, area probability sample. Specifically, we first stratify the sample according to the main sub-national unit of government (state, province, region, etc.) and by urban or rural location.
Area stratification reduces the likelihood that distinctive ethnic or language groups are left out of the sample. Afrobarometer occasionally purposely oversamples certain populations that are politically significant within a country to ensure that the size of the sub-sample is large enough to be analysed. Any oversamples is noted in the TIR.
Sample stages Samples are drawn in either four or five stages:
Stage 1: In rural areas only, the first stage is to draw secondary sampling units (SSUs). SSUs are not used in urban areas, and in some countries they are not used in rural areas. See the TIR that accompanies each data set for specific details on the sample in any given country. Stage 2: We randomly select primary sampling units (PSU). Stage 3: We then randomly select sampling start points. Stage 4: Interviewers then randomly select households. Stage 5: Within the household, the interviewer randomly selects an individual respondent. Each interviewers alternates in each household between interviewing a man and interviewing a woman to ensure gender balance in the sample.
To keep the costs and logistics of fieldwork within manageable limits, eight interviews are clustered within each selected PSU.
Data weights For some national surveys, data are weighted to correct for over or under-sampling or for household size. "Withinwt" should be turned on for all national -level descriptive statistics in countries that contain this weighting variable. It is included as the last variable in the data set, with details described in the codebook. For merged data sets, "Combinwt" should be turned on for cross-national comparisons of descriptive statistics. Note: this weighting variable standardizes each national sample as if it were equal in size.
Further information on sampling protocols, including full details of the methodologies used for each stage of sample selection, can be found in Section 5 of the Afrobarometer Round 5 Survey Manual
Face-to-face
The questionnaire for Round 3 addressed country-specific issues, but many of the same questions were asked across surveys. The survey instruments were not standardized across all countries and the following features should be noted:
• In the seven countries that originally formed the Southern Africa Barometer (SAB) - Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe - a standardized questionnaire was used, so question wording and response categories are the generally the same for all of these countries. The questionnaires in Mali and Tanzania were also essentially identical (in the original English version). Ghana, Uganda and Nigeria each had distinct questionnaires.
• This merged dataset combines, into a single variable, responses from across these different countries where either identical or very similar questions were used, or where conceptually equivalent questions can be found in at least nine of the different countries. For each variable, the exact question text from each of the countries or groups of countries ("SAB" refers to the Southern Africa Barometer countries) is listed.
• Response options also varied on some questions, and where applicable, these differences are also noted.
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Time series data for the statistic Rural land area (sq. km) and country Central African Republic. Indicator Definition:Rural land area in square kilometers, derived from urban extent grids which distinguish urban and rural areas based on a combination of population counts (persons), settlement points, and the presence of Nighttime Lights. Areas are defined as urban where contiguous lighted cells from the Nighttime Lights or approximated urban extents based on buffered settlement points for which the total population is greater than 5,000 persons.
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Historical dataset showing Central African Republic rural population by year from 1960 to 2023.
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This horizontal bar chart displays rural land area (km²) by continent using the aggregation sum in Central African Republic. The data is about countries per year.
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This dataset is about countries per year in Central African Republic. It has 64 rows. It features 4 columns: country, country full name, and rural population.
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Armed conflicts exacerbate public health challenges in Sub-Saharan Africa. Inequality across groups and poverty in rural areas can be an important factor in triggering local wars there. This study investigates whether equitable distribution of public services by governments across urban and rural geographical regions reduces the risk of local wars initiated by armed groups in Sub-Saharan African countries. Does an equitable distribution of public services such as healthcare and clean water public services across regions decrease the risk of armed conflicts? Uneven distribution of public services can increase the risk of conflict by contributing to group grievances, rural poverty, and rent-seeking competition over state resources. Analyses of 39 Sub-Saharan African countries from 1947 to 2021 show that a one-standard deviation increase in equal access to public services by urban-rural location lowers the risk of armed conflict a substantial 37 to 53 percent with consideration of a battery of control variables.
In 2023, Burundi and Niger had the highest share of their populations living in rural areas in Africa, with approximately 85 percent and 83 percent, respectively. Rwanda and Malawi followed, each with around 82 percent. In contrast, Gabon and Libya were the countries with lowest share of rural inhabitants on the continent.