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Urban Population across Ethiopia, South Africa and Nigeria

Urban Population · latest% of population
Ethiopia24.1%record ends 2025
South Africa63.8%record ends 2025
Nigeria63.8%record ends 2025
EthiopiaSouth AfricaNigeria
Remove one with its ×, or add a fifth and the oldest drops out. Any of the 54 can be compared.

Urban Population

Everyone starts at 100 in their first year with data. Answers how fast — and often reverses the order.
951001051101151201251302014201520162017201820192020202120222023202420252026Ethiopia127 (first year = 100) · endsNigeria116 (first year = 100) · endsSouth Africa101 (first year = 100) · ends
Reported yearModelled between surveysNo record

How far each has moved

Ethiopia moved fastest — 1.3× its 2014 level — and South Africa slowest at 1.0×. Rank by speed and the order is not the order by level.
Ethiopia+5.1 pts1.3×record ends 2025 — a shorter run than the others
Nigeria+8.9 pts1.2×record ends 2025 — a shorter run than the others
South Africa+0.7 pts1.0×record ends 2025 — a shorter run than the others

Every measure, side by side

Latest value for each country, with the year it comes from. A hatched cell means no usable record — not a zero.
Latest value for every measure, by country
MeasureEthiopiaSouth AfricaNigeria
Populationpeople135.5m202564.7m2025237.5m2025
GDP per Capitacurrent US$$1,1312026$7,6592026$1,5942026
GDP Growth% per year9.2%20261.0%20264.2%2026
Inflation Rate% per year11.7%20264.4%202615.6%2026
Life Expectancyyears67.6202466.3202454.62024
Internet Users% of population21.9%202478.4%202441.2%2024
Electricity Access% of population56.6%202490.2%202462.5%2024
Urban Population% of population24.1%202563.8%202563.8%2025
Bold marks the highest value in a row. Behind means that country’s latest figure is older than its neighbours’ — a 2026 value and a 2022 value are not the same claim, and a hatched cell means no record at all.

What each comparison rests on

A country with more reported years is a firmer comparison than one drawn mostly from models. This is the part most comparison tools leave out.
Ethiopia92% reported
South Africa92% reported
Nigeria92% reported
This exact comparison, as one call. Change the countries above and the request changes with it.
GET /v1/data?country_codes=ET,ZA,NG&metric_key=urban_population_pct&start_year=2014&end_year=2026

Every measure, Ethiopia and South Africa and Nigeria side by side

178 indicators where at least one of the two has a recent figure. Each value shows its own period and links to that country's page; a dash means no recent figure, not zero.

IndicatorEthiopiaSouth AfricaNigeria
Economy
GDP$127.15B (2026)$489.08B (2026)$386.67B (2026)
GDP per Capita$1,131 (2026)$7,659 (2026)$1,594 (2026)
Inflation Rate11.7% (2026)4.4% (Sep 2026)14.63% (Sep 2026)
Central Bank Policy Rate—7.25% (1 Sep 2026)23% (1 Sep 2026)
Official Exchange Rate161.06 ETB/USD (Sep 2026)16.43 ZAR/USD (Oct 2026)1,361.34 NGN/USD (23 Oct 2026)
Budget Balance-2% (2026)-4.4% (2026)-3.3% (2026)
Unemployment Rate3.3% (2025)29.6% (2025)3.9% (2025)
Public Debt40.7% (2026)78% (2026)34.6% (2026)
Trade Balance$-8.71B (2025)$8.16B (2025)—
GDP Growth9.2% (2026)1% (2026)4.2% (2026)
GNI per Capita$1,110 (2025)$6,270 (2025)$1,360 (2025)
GNI per Capita (PPP)$3,620 (2025)$15,600 (2025)$9,230 (2025)
GDP (PPP)$490.64B (2025)$1.03T (2025)$2.26T (2025)
Agriculture (% of GDP)32.8% (2025)2.8% (2025)23% (2025)
Industry (% of GDP)27.8% (2025)24.1% (2025)16.4% (2025)
Manufacturing (% of GDP)4.2% (2025)12.3% (2025)8.3% (2025)
Services (% of GDP)36.6% (2025)63.1% (2025)58.2% (2025)
Investment (% of GDP)20.1% (2025)13.9% (2025)—
Remittances Received$7.14B (2024)$1B (2025)$22.79B (2025)
Remittances (% of GDP)4.8% (2024)0.2% (2025)7.8% (2025)
External Debt (% of GNI)—44.8% (2024)60% (2024)
Foreign Reserves$3.78B (2024)$76.02B (2025)$46.02B (2025)
Credit to Private Sector (% of GDP)—89.4% (2024)13.2% (2023)
Tax Revenue (% of GDP)3.4% (2024)25.9% (2024)—
Labor Force Participation68.5% (2025)55.6% (2025)82.5% (2025)
Female Labor Force Participation58.5% (2025)49.9% (2025)80.7% (2025)
Account Ownership48.8% (2024)81.1% (2024)63.3% (2024)
Youth NEET Rate—34.61% (2024)11.9% (2024)
Military Spending (% of GDP)0.5% (2025)0.7% (2025)0.9% (2025)
Trade Openness (% of GDP)33.5% (2025)60.9% (2025)—
Inflation (GDP Deflator)16.7% (2025)2.8% (2025)13.9% (2025)
Current Account Balance-2.5% (2026)-0.7% (2026)7% (2026)
Foreign Direct Investment$3.8B (2025)$-2.31B (2025)$4.01B (2025)
FDI (% of GDP)3.6% (2025)-0.5% (2025)1.4% (2025)
Government Revenue (% of GDP)7.5% (2024)27.2% (2024)10.8% (2024)
Government Spending (% of GDP)9.5% (2024)33% (2024)12.3% (2024)
Youth Unemployment Rate—53.2% (2025)7% (2025)
Productive Capacity Index27.7 (2024)51.7 (2024)30.7 (2024)
Foreign Aid (% of GNI)4% (2023)0.4% (2023)0.8% (2023)
Foreign Aid per Capita$42 (2023)$24 (2023)$16 (2023)
Lending Interest Rate—10.7% (2025)18.5% (2025)
Real Interest Rate—7.7% (2025)4% (2025)
Gross Savings (% of GDP)19.7% (2024)12.9% (2025)—
Employment in Agriculture60.1% (2025)5.4% (2025)33.5% (2025)
Employment in Industry6.4% (2025)20.8% (2025)17% (2025)
Employment in Services33.4% (2025)73.8% (2025)49.5% (2025)
Vulnerable Employment84.1% (2025)11.7% (2025)66.5% (2025)
Household Consumption (% of GDP)80.9% (2025)65.8% (2025)—
Bank Branches per 100,00014.3 (2023)8 (2024)3.3 (2024)
ATMs per 100,00010.1 (2023)46 (2024)12.8 (2024)
GDP per Capita Growth7% (2025)-0% (2025)1.9% (2025)
Debt Service (% of GNI)0.9% (2024)5.7% (2024)5.5% (2024)
Trade
Exports of Goods & Services$16.79B (2025)$134.18B (2025)—
Imports of Goods & Services$25.49B (2025)$126.02B (2025)—
Export Diversification Index0.763 (2025)0.557 (2025)0.81 (2025)
Export Concentration Index0.434 (2025)0.153 (2025)0.619 (2025)
Fuel Exports (% of Exports)0% (2023)8.2% (2025)85.9% (2025)
Manufactures Exports (% of Exports)9.2% (2023)38.3% (2025)6.1% (2025)
Food Exports (% of Exports)80.4% (2023)12.8% (2025)6.4% (2025)
High-Tech Exports (% of Manufactured)3.8% (2023)5.7% (2024)2.7% (2024)
Exports (% of GDP)13.3% (2025)31.4% (2025)—
Imports (% of GDP)20.2% (2025)29.5% (2025)—
Development
Human Development Index0.497 (2023)0.741 (2023)0.56 (2023)
Gender Inequality Index0.497 (2023)0.388 (2023)0.677 (2023)
Inequality-adjusted HDI0.326 (2023)0.476 (2023)0.379 (2023)
Demographics
Population135.47M (2025)64.75M (2025)237.53M (2025)
Population Growth2.6% (2025)1.1% (2025)2.1% (2025)
Life Expectancy67.6 years (2024)66.3 years (2024)54.6 years (2024)
Median Age19.3 years (2026)28.9 years (2026)18.3 years (2026)
Fertility Rate3.91 (2024)2.21 (2024)4.38 (2024)
Rural Population75.9% (2025)36.2% (2025)36.2% (2025)
Population Under 1538.8% (2025)25.7% (2025)40.5% (2025)
Urban Population24.1% (2025)63.8% (2025)63.8% (2025)
Population Density138.9/km² (2026)53.6/km² (2026)266.2/km² (2026)
Birth Rate30.3 (2026)17.8 (2026)31.8 (2026)
Death Rate5.73 (2026)9.31 (2026)11.5 (2026)
Net Migration Rate0.2 (2026)2.01 (2026)-0.01 (2026)
Life Expectancy (Female)71 years (2024)69.8 years (2024)54.9 years (2024)
Life Expectancy (Male)64.4 years (2024)62.8 years (2024)54.3 years (2024)
Urban Population Growth4.6% (2025)1.3% (2025)3.3% (2025)
Health
Infant Mortality34.5 (2024)24.2 (2024)69.8 (2024)
HIV Prevalence0.7% (2024)17.2% (2024)1.2% (2024)
Health Spending (% of GDP)2.8% (2023)8.9% (2023)4.2% (2023)
Physicians per 1,0000.14 (2023)—0.38 (2023)
UHC Service Coverage Index33 (2023)74 (2023)47 (2023)
Out-of-Pocket Health Spending46.3% (2023)6.7% (2023)70.9% (2023)
Safely Managed Sanitation8.1% (2024)73.8% (2024)32.2% (2024)
Maternal Mortality194.9 (2023)117.6 (2023)992.8 (2023)
Under-Five Mortality44.5 (2024)35.1 (2024)115.6 (2024)
Neonatal Mortality25.2 (2024)12.4 (2024)39 (2024)
Tuberculosis Incidence141 (2024)389 (2024)219 (2024)
Measles Immunization77% (2025)66% (2025)56% (2025)
DTP3 Immunization81% (2025)65% (2025)62% (2025)
Basic Drinking Water42% (2024)22.2% (2024)52.3% (2024)
Basic Sanitation2.3% (2024)3.6% (2024)15.7% (2024)
Diabetes Prevalence4.4% (2024)7.2% (2024)3% (2024)
Adolescent Fertility Rate68.2 (2024)51.8 (2024)84 (2024)
Health Spending per Capita$35 (2023)$537 (2023)$67 (2023)
Smoking Prevalence5.2% (2024)23.7% (2024)3.1% (2024)
Child Welfare
Child Stunting35.5% (2024)24.4% (2024)33.8% (2024)
Birth Registration——39.7% (2024)
Child Marriage——33.4% (2024)
Education
Education Spending (% of GDP)2.3% (2024)6% (2024)0.3% (2023)
Tertiary Enrollment—23.5% (2023)—
Adult Literacy Rate—91.2% (2024)70.4% (2024)
Youth Literacy Rate—97.2% (2024)81.4% (2024)
Primary Completion Rate—97.6% (2024)77.4% (2024)
Lower Secondary Completion—92.5% (2024)74.1% (2024)
Primary Net Enrollment77.5% (2024)93.9% (2023)75.7% (2023)
Lower Secondary Enrollment45.2% (2024)90.4% (2023)—
Upper Secondary Enrollment26.7% (2024)86.9% (2023)—
Upper Secondary Completion—62.2% (2024)68.5% (2024)
Secondary Enrollment—104.1% (2023)46.9% (2023)
Food Security
Undernourishment19.9% (2024)11.2% (2024)22.2% (2024)
Acute Food Insecurity8.5M (Jan 2026)—19.5M (Sep 2026)
Agriculture
Agricultural Land (% of Land)34.3% (2024)79.4% (2024)77.1% (2024)
Food Production Index119.3 (2024)110.4 (2024)122.7 (2024)
Cassava Production——62.62M t (2024)
Coffee Production575.7K t (2024)—1.81K t (2024)
Cocoa Production——350K t (2024)
Sorghum Production4.1M t (2024)98K t (2024)6.5M t (2024)
Millet Production1.13M t (2024)6.33K t (2024)1.55M t (2024)
Maize Production11.7M t (2024)12.85M t (2024)11.16M t (2024)
Rice Production282.72K t (2024)3.08K t (2024)9.13M t (2024)
Wheat Production6.19M t (2024)1.92M t (2024)43.93K t (2024)
Maize Yield3,444 kg/ha (2024)4,874 kg/ha (2024)2,030 kg/ha (2024)
Rice Yield2,994 kg/ha (2024)2,912 kg/ha (2024)1,997 kg/ha (2024)
Wheat Yield2,904 kg/ha (2024)3,809 kg/ha (2024)1,574 kg/ha (2024)
Cattle Stock71.9M head (2024)12.1M head (2024)20.9M head (2024)
Governance
Homicide Rate——15.7 (2023)
Corruption Perceptions Index37 (2024)41 (2024)26 (2024)
Electoral Democracy Index0.257 (2025)0.743 (2025)0.505 (2025)
Liberal Democracy Index0.1 (2025)0.633 (2025)0.311 (2025)
Political Corruption Index0.529 (2025)0.538 (2025)0.834 (2025)
Control of Corruption-0.37 (2025)-0.13 (2025)-1.07 (2025)
Government Effectiveness-0.62 (2025)-0.02 (2025)-0.91 (2025)
Rule of Law-0.94 (2025)0.04 (2025)-0.95 (2025)
Political Stability-1.85 (2025)-0.38 (2025)-1.74 (2025)
Regulatory Quality-0.73 (2025)-0.07 (2025)-0.65 (2025)
Voice and Accountability-1.28 (2025)0.68 (2025)-0.66 (2025)
Organized Violence Deaths5.46K deaths (2025)17 deaths (2025)4.16K deaths (2025)
State-Based Conflict Dyads3 (2025)0 (2025)3 (2025)
Non-State Conflict Dyads6 (2025)2 (2025)28 (2025)
One-Sided Violence Dyads4 (2025)0 (2025)10 (2025)
Humanitarian
Refugees Hosted1.01M (2025)55.18K (2025)123.85K (2025)
Internally Displaced People2.38M (2025)0 (2025)3.54M (2025)
Asylum Seekers Hosted112.99K (2025)82.36K (2025)18.19K (2025)
Stateless People0 (2025)0 (2025)0 (2025)
Technology
Internet Users21.9% (2024)78.4% (2024)41.2% (2024)
Mobile Subscriptions65.1 (2024)179.3 (2024)70.8 (2024)
4G Coverage73.93% (2025)99.53% (2025)80% (2025)
Fixed Broadband Subscriptions0.6 (2024)5.3 (2024)0.1 (2024)
Mobile Data Price4.79% (2025)1.27% (2025)1.56% (2025)
3G Coverage99.01% (2025)99.86% (2025)84.38% (2025)
Fixed Broadband Price12.41% (2025)3.36% (2025)15.47% (2025)
Mobile Bundle Price1.69% (2025)1.11% (2025)2.74% (2025)
Infrastructure
Electricity Access56.6% (2024)90.2% (2024)62.5% (2024)
Air Transport Passengers15.27M (2023)15.45M (2023)5.27M (2023)
Energy
Renewable Energy Capacity10.1K MW (2025)16.6K MW (2025)3.2K MW (2025)
Solar Capacity21.6 MW (2025)11.3K MW (2025)284.5 MW (2025)
Wind Capacity504 MW (2025)4.3K MW (2025)—
Hydropower Capacity9.2K MW (2025)751.7 MW (2025)2.9K MW (2025)
Clean Cooking Access7% (2024)90% (2024)28% (2024)
Electricity Consumption per Capita157 kWh (2024)3,308 kWh (2024)141 kWh (2024)
Power Transmission Losses20.7% (2024)9.8% (2024)14.1% (2024)
Off-grid Renewable Capacity22.8 MW (2025)14.1 MW (2025)118.1 MW (2025)
Rural Electricity Access44.8% (2024)86.3% (2024)23.5% (2024)
Solar Share of Electricity0.12% (2025)8% (2025)0.3% (2025)
Wind Share of Electricity3.3% (2025)4.7% (2025)0% (2025)
Hydropower Share of Electricity96.5% (2025)0.8% (2025)30.9% (2025)
Fossil Share of Electricity0% (2025)82.2% (2025)68.7% (2025)
Electricity Demand31 TWh (2025)237 TWh (2025)39 TWh (2025)
Electricity Carbon Intensity23 gCO₂/kWh (2025)699 gCO₂/kWh (2025)456 gCO₂/kWh (2025)
Primary Energy per Capita693 kWh (2023)21,287 kWh (2024)2,343 kWh (2023)
Climate
CO2 Emissions per Capita0.15 t (2024)6.88 t (2024)0.57 t (2024)
Forest Area23.8% (2024)18.8% (2024)18.9% (2024)
Protected Areas17% (2025)12.9% (2025)11.6% (2025)
PM2.5 Air Pollution23.8 µg/m³ (2023)27.7 µg/m³ (2023)65.7 µg/m³ (2023)

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