Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso: Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas was 25.0% in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Burkina Faso, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2020, share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Burkina Faso stood at 25.0%. That is the highest value across all 15 years on record.
The figure is up 17.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Burkina Faso peaked at 25.0% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1950.
That places Burkina Faso 160th out of 236 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Burkina Faso, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 0.0% | — |
| 1955 | 1.2% | — |
| 1960 | 1.3% | +8.3% |
| 1965 | 1.4% | +13.9% |
| 1970 | 3.6% | +149.3% |
| 1975 | 4.0% | +12.4% |
| 1980 | 7.1% | +75.2% |
| 1985 | 8.8% | +24.8% |
| 1990 | 9.5% | +7.6% |
| 1995 | 12.4% | +30.6% |
| 2000 | 15.2% | +22.6% |
| 2005 | 19.1% | +25.2% |
| 2010 | 21.4% | +11.9% |
| 2015 | 24.2% | +13.5% |
| 2020 | 25.0% | +3.1% |
Burkina Faso compared with similar countries
- Burkina Faso's 25.0% is below the median for low income countries, which is 31.8%, 79% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Burkina Faso's 25.0% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 37.3%, 67% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Burkina Faso changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | +149.3% | 1.4% | 3.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 0.6% | 0.0% | 1.2% | 2 |
| 1960s | 1.4% | 1.3% | 1.4% | 2 |
| 1970s | 3.8% | 3.6% | 4.0% | 2 |
| 1980s | 8.0% | 7.1% | 8.8% | 2 |
| 1990s | 11.0% | 9.5% | 12.4% | 2 |
| 2000s | 17.2% | 15.2% | 19.1% | 2 |
| 2010s | 22.8% | 21.4% | 24.2% | 2 |
| 2020s | 25.0% | 25.0% | 25.0% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Burkina Faso
- 157 Norway 25.3% compare
- 158 Central African Republic 25.1% compare
- 159 Timor-Leste 25.0% compare
- 161 Ethiopia 24.6% compare
- 162 French Guiana 24.0% compare
- 163 Montenegro 23.6% compare
More population data for Burkina Faso
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.0413 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -1.76 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.0413 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.2492 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 40,542 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 2.35 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.4791 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth 0.0% (2100)
- Population density 182.22 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 3.29 million people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Burkina Faso?
- Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Burkina Faso was 25.0% in 2020, according to European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas recorded in Burkina Faso?
- The highest recorded value was 25.0% in 2020.
- What is the lowest share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas recorded in Burkina Faso?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1950.
- How does Burkina Faso rank for share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas?
- Burkina Faso ranks 160th out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas rising or falling in Burkina Faso?
- Over the last ten years it is up 17.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Burkina Faso data come from?
- The figures come from European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Estimated share of the population living in cities. Cities are identified using satellite imagery and population data, applying the same definitions across countries.