Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Sudan
Sudan: Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas was 47.6% in 2020. ▲ Rising
Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Sudan, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Sudan recorded 47.6% for share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in 2020.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 5.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Sudan peaked at 50.3% in 2010 and was at its lowest, 4.6%, in 1950.
Sudan ranks 66th of 236 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 15 years of available data.
Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Sudan, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 4.6% | — |
| 1955 | 8.3% | +81.2% |
| 1960 | 9.9% | +19.9% |
| 1965 | 16.5% | +66.9% |
| 1970 | 24.6% | +48.6% |
| 1975 | 32.2% | +31.2% |
| 1980 | 37.4% | +15.9% |
| 1985 | 41.8% | +11.8% |
| 1990 | 44.1% | +5.5% |
| 1995 | 46.4% | +5.3% |
| 2000 | 48.7% | +4.9% |
| 2005 | 49.2% | +1.1% |
| 2010 | 50.3% | +2.3% |
| 2015 | 49.8% | -1.1% |
| 2020 | 47.6% | -4.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 6.4% | 4.6% | 8.3% | 2 |
| 1960s | 13.2% | 9.9% | 16.5% | 2 |
| 1970s | 28.4% | 24.6% | 32.2% | 2 |
| 1980s | 39.6% | 37.4% | 41.8% | 2 |
| 1990s | 45.2% | 44.1% | 46.4% | 2 |
| 2000s | 48.9% | 48.7% | 49.2% | 2 |
| 2010s | 50.1% | 49.8% | 50.3% | 2 |
| 2020s | 47.6% | 47.6% | 47.6% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Sudan
- 63 Panama 48.6% compare
- 64 Bangladesh 47.6% compare
- 65 Russian Federation 47.6% compare
- 67 Costa Rica 47.5% compare
- 68 Mongolia 47.2% compare
- 69 Togo 46.8% compare
More population data for Sudan
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.5289 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.4226 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate 1.64 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.4226 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development 0.4% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 9.54 million people (2100)
- Population density 73.28 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth 0.4% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.3723 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 2.31 Percent per annum (2030)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Sudan?
- Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Sudan was 47.6% 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 Sudan?
- The highest recorded value was 50.3% in 2010.
- What is the lowest share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas recorded in Sudan?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.6% in 1950.
- How does Sudan rank for share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas?
- Sudan ranks 66th out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas rising or falling in Sudan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 5.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Sudan 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.