Living in Cities in Burkina Faso: 1800 to Today (and Tomorrow)

Behind every percentage point in this data lies the daily reality of human lives shaped by the spaces they inhabit. For Burkina Faso, the shift from rural landscapes to urban centers tells a story of evolving communities, changing labor, and the quiet rhythms of generations building homes, markets, and futures together. These numbers do not merely measure geography; they chart the gradual transformation of how people gather, trade, and organize their societies across centuries.

The trajectory began slowly with the 1800s estimate at 4, creeping through the 1850s estimate at 5 and the 1890s estimate at 5.8. By the 1900s estimate it reached 6, advancing steadily to the 1950s at 11. A more rapid acceleration followed, climbing through the 1980s at 23 and the 2000s at 31, until reaching the 2020s at 41. Looking forward, the 2100s projection suggests a further rise to 57.

If you were born into this unfolding history, your proximity to urban infrastructure and commerce would be defined by these shifts. In the 2020s, living in cities in Burkina Faso stands at 41 % — ranking #115 of 157 countries. This movement from the quiet agrarian landscapes of earlier eras to the increasingly dense neighborhoods of today frames the very pace of a human life.

Discover how your own history compares by computing your parallel lives on MYRIAD.