A major indicator of impactful development is observed when rural communities begin to experience the benefits of government policies. In Africa, about 80% of the continent’s population lives in rural areas, although these regions often suffer from inadequate infrastructure and limited access to essential services.
TOP 10 AFRICAN COUNTRIES WITH THE LARGEST RURAL POPULATION
Based on data from 1960 to 2023, sourced from the Global Economy, the following are the top 10 African countries with the largest rural populations:
- Burundi – 85%
- Niger – 83%
- Rwanda – 82%
- Malawi – 82%
- Ethiopia – 77%
- Chad – 76%
- Swaziland – 75%
- Uganda – 73%
- Kenya – 70%
- Comoros – 70%
While rural areas in these countries have the highest population percentages, they often lack basic amenities and face challenges such as insecurity, poor road networks, and inadequate healthcare systems. This situation drives rural-urban migration as residents seek better opportunities in larger cities.
To address these challenges, there is a pressing need for governments to focus on policies that enhance development in rural areas and stem the tide of migration. Additionally, implementing financial autonomy for local governments could help in bringing essential development to these underserved regions.
