In 2023, the population of Africa was projected to grow by 2.34 percent compared to the previous year. The population growth rate on the continent has been constantly over 2.3 percent from 2000 onwards, and it peaked at 2.59 percent between 2012 and 2013. Despite a slowdown in the growth rate, the continent's population will continue to increase significantly in the coming years. The second-largest population worldwide In 2022, the total population of Africa amounted to around 1.4 billion. The number of inhabitants had grown steadily in the previous decades, rising from approximately 810 million in 2000. Driven by a decreasing mortality rate and a higher life expectancy at birth, the African population was forecast to increase to about 2.5 billion individuals by 2050. Africa is currently the second most populous continent worldwide after Asia. However, forecasts showed that Africa could gradually close the gap and almost reach the size of the Asian population in 2100. By that year, Africa might count 3.9 billion people, compared to 4.7 billion in Asia. The world's youngest continent The median age in Africa corresponded to 18.8 years in 2023. Although the median age has increased in recent years, the continent remains the youngest worldwide. In 2023, roughly 40 percent of the African population was aged 15 years and younger, compared to a global average of 25 percent. Africa recorded not only the highest share of youth but also the smallest elderly population worldwide. As of the same year, only three percent of Africa's population was aged 65 years and older. Africa and Latin America were the only regions below the global average of 10 percent. On the continent, Niger, Uganda, and Angola were the countries with the youngest population in 2023.

All the African countries registered a positive population growth in 2023, except for Seychelles and Mauritius. Niger had the highest population growth rate at nearly 3.7 percent compared to the previous year. The Democratic Republic of Congo, Chad, Mali, Somalia, and Angola followed, recording over three percent growth each. The African population has been increasing considerably in the last decades and is expected to nearly double by 2050. This is due to several factors, including the rising life expectancy and the high fertility rates registered on the continent.

Chart and table of Africa population from 1950 to 2025. United Nations projections are also included through the year 2100.

Graph and download economic data for Population Growth: All Income Levels for Sub-Saharan Africa (SPPOPGROWSSF) from 1961 to 2023 about Sub-Saharan Africa, income, population, and rate.

According to the forecast, Africa's total population would reach nearly 2.5 billion by 2050. In 2023, the continent had around 1.36 billion inhabitants, with Nigeria, Ethiopia, and Egypt as the most populous countries. In the coming years, Africa will experience significant population growth and will close the gap significantly with the Asian population by 2100. Rapid population growth The population of Africa has been increasing annually in recent years, growing from around 818 million to over 1.39 billion between 2000 and 2021, respectively. In the same period, the annual growth rate of the population has been constantly set at roughly 2.5 percent, with a peak of 2.62 percent in 2014. The reasons behind this rapid growth are various. One factor is the high fertility rate registered in African countries. In 2021, a woman in Niger had an average of over 6.8 children in her reproductive years, the highest rate on the continent. High fertility resulted in a large young population and partly compensated for the high mortality rate in Africa, leading to fast-paced population growth. High poverty levels Africa’s population is concerned with widespread poverty. In 2024, over 429 million people on the continent are extremely poor and live with less than 2.15 U.S. dollars per day. Globally, Africa is the continent hosting the highest poverty rate. In 2024, the countries of Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of the Congo account for around 21 percent of the world's population living in extreme poverty. Nevertheless, poverty in Africa is forecast to decrease in the coming years.

Chart and table of South Africa population from 1950 to 2025. United Nations projections are also included through the year 2100.

South Africa ZA: Population: Growth data was reported at 1.245 % in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 1.301 % for 2016. South Africa ZA: Population: Growth data is updated yearly, averaging 2.282 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 2.794 % in 1972 and a record low of 1.047 % in 2008. South Africa ZA: Population: Growth data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s South Africa – Table ZA.World Bank.WDI: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Annual population growth rate for year t is the exponential rate of growth of midyear population from year t-1 to t, expressed as a percentage . Population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship.; ; Derived from total population. Population source: (1) United Nations Population Division. World Population Prospects: 2017 Revision, (2) Census reports and other statistical publications from national statistical offices, (3) Eurostat: Demographic Statistics, (4) United Nations Statistical Division. Population and Vital Statistics Reprot (various years), (5) U.S. Census Bureau: International Database, and (6) Secretariat of the Pacific Community: Statistics and Demography Programme.; Weighted average;

Graph and download economic data for Population Growth for Developing Countries in Middle East and North Africa (SPPOPGROWMNA) from 1961 to 2023 about North Africa, Middle East, population, and rate.

The world's population first reached one billion people in 1803, and reach eight billion in 2023, and will peak at almost 11 billion by the end of the century. Although it took thousands of years to reach one billion people, it did so at the beginning of a phenomenon known as the demographic transition; from this point onwards, population growth has skyrocketed, and since the 1960s the population has increased by one billion people every 12 to 15 years. The demographic transition sees a sharp drop in mortality due to factors such as vaccination, sanitation, and improved food supply; the population boom that follows is due to increased survival rates among children and higher life expectancy among the general population; and fertility then drops in response to this population growth. Regional differences The demographic transition is a global phenomenon, but it has taken place at different times across the world. The industrialized countries of Europe and North America were the first to go through this process, followed by some states in the Western Pacific. Latin America's population then began growing at the turn of the 20th century, but the most significant period of global population growth occurred as Asia progressed in the late-1900s. As of the early 21st century, almost two thirds of the world's population live in Asia, although this is set to change significantly in the coming decades. Future growth The growth of Africa's population, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa, will have the largest impact on global demographics in this century. From 2000 to 2100, it is expected that Africa's population will have increased by a factor of almost five. It overtook Europe in size in the late 1990s, and overtook the Americas a decade later. In contrast to Africa, Europe's population is now in decline, as birth rates are consistently below death rates in many countries, especially in the south and east, resulting in natural population decline. Similarly, the population of the Americas and Asia are expected to go into decline in the second half of this century, and only Oceania's population will still be growing alongside Africa. By 2100, the world's population will have over three billion more than today, with the vast majority of this concentrated in Africa. Demographers predict that climate change is exacerbating many of the challenges that currently hinder progress in Africa, such as political and food instability; if Africa's transition is prolonged, then it may result in further population growth that would place a strain on the region's resources, however, curbing this growth earlier would alleviate some of the pressure created by climate change.

Graph and download economic data for Population Growth: All Income Levels for Middle East and North Africa (SPPOPGROWMEA) from 1961 to 2023 about North Africa, Middle East, income, population, and rate.

This statistic shows the population change in Sub-Saharan Africa from 2013 to 2023. Sub-Saharan Africa includes almost all countries south of the Saharan desert. In 2023, Sub-Saharan Africa's population increased by approximately 2.5 percent compared to the previous year.

Chart and table of Middle East And North Africa population from 1950 to 2025. United Nations projections are also included through the year 2100.

South Africa ZA: Urban Population Growth data was reported at 2.021 % in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 2.090 % for 2016. South Africa ZA: Urban Population Growth data is updated yearly, averaging 2.837 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 3.548 % in 1960 and a record low of 1.930 % in 2008. South Africa ZA: Urban Population Growth data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s South Africa – Table ZA.World Bank.WDI: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated using World Bank population estimates and urban ratios from the United Nations World Urbanization Prospects.; ; World Bank staff estimates based on the United Nations Population Division's World Urbanization Prospects: 2018 Revision.; Weighted average;

Population Growth: All Income Levels for Middle East and North Africa was 1.71764 % Chg. at Annual Rate in January of 2020, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, Population Growth: All Income Levels for Middle East and North Africa reached a record high of 3.56968 in January of 1990 and a record low of 1.71764 in January of 2020. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for Population Growth: All Income Levels for Middle East and North Africa - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on March of 2025.

The population in Africa was forecast to expand annually by an average of 2.37 percent between 2020 and 2025. Over 20 countries might grow above this rate, with Niger leading by an annual population change of 3.7 percent in the mentioned period. Angola was expected to follow, with an average population growth of 3.15 percent annually. Overall, Africa has recorded a faster population growth compared to other world regions. The continent's population almost doubled in the last 25 years.

Chart and table of Resource Rich Sub Saharan Africa Countries population from 1950 to 2025. United Nations projections are also included through the year 2100.

According to the forecast, the population of Africa will grow by 1.65 percent in 2050 compared to the previous year. The population growth rate in the continent is expected to decline in the coming years, yet the number of inhabitants will continue to increase significantly. By 2050, Africa will reach around 2.5 billion inhabitants, compared to 1.46 billion in 2023.

As of 2023, the total population of Africa was over 1.48 billion. The number of inhabitants on the continent increased annually from 2000 onwards. In comparison, the total population was around 831 million in 2000. According to forecasts, Africa will experience impressive population growth in the coming years and would nearly reach the Asian population by 2100. Over 200 million people in Nigeria Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa. In 2023, the country’s population exceeded 223 million people. Ethiopia followed with a population of around 127 million, while Egypt ranked third, accounting for approximately 113 million individuals. Other leading African countries in terms of population were the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania, South Africa, and Kenya. Additionally, Niger, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Chad recorded the highest population growth rate on the continent in 2023, with the number of residents rising by over 3.08 percent compared to the previous year. On the other hand, the populations of Tunisia and Eswatini registered a growth rate below 0.85 percent, while for Mauritius and Seychelles, it was negative. Drivers for population growth Several factors have driven Africa’s population growth. For instance, the annual number of births on the continent has risen constantly over the years, jumping from nearly 32 million in 2000 to almost 46 million in 2023. Moreover, despite the constant decline in the number of births per woman, the continent’s fertility rate has remained considerably above the global average. Each woman in Africa had an average of over four children throughout her reproductive years as of 2021, compared to a world rate of around two births per woman. At the same time, improved health and living conditions contributed to decreasing mortality rate and increasing life expectancy in recent years, driving population growth.

South Africa Population: Mid Year: Mpumalanga: Male: 5 to 9 Years data was reported at 245,047.000 Person in 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of 237,696.767 Person for 2017. South Africa Population: Mid Year: Mpumalanga: Male: 5 to 9 Years data is updated yearly, averaging 206,097.510 Person from Jun 2001 (Median) to 2018, with 18 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 245,047.000 Person in 2018 and a record low of 197,348.037 Person in 2009. South Africa Population: Mid Year: Mpumalanga: Male: 5 to 9 Years data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Statistics South Africa. The data is categorized under Global Database’s South Africa – Table ZA.G004: Population: Mid Year: by Province, Age and Sex.

Chart and table of Ida Countries In Sub Saharan Africa Classified As Fragile Situations population from 1950 to 2025. United Nations projections are also included through the year 2100.