This statistic shows the total population of Sub-Saharan Africa from 2013 to 2023. Sub-Saharan Africa includes all countries south of the Sahara desert. In 2023, the total population of Sub-Saharan Africa amounted to approximately 1.26 billion inhabitants.

In 2022, around 55 percent of the total population of Sub-Saharan Africa was aged 15 to 64 years. Moreover, children younger than 15 years constituted a large 42 percent of the inhabitants. Overall, Africa has a young population. Only three percent of the individuals in the Sub-Saharan region were aged 65 years and older. As of 2023, Niger, Uganda, Angola, and Mali had a median age below 16.5 years, the lowest on the continent.

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.

Historical chart and dataset showing total population for Sub-Saharan Africa by year from 1950 to 2025.

The average for 2023 based on 47 countries was 0.33 percent. The highest value was in Nigeria: 2.81 percent and the lowest value was in Sao Tome and Principe: 0 percent. The indicator is available from 1960 to 2023. Below is a chart for all countries where data are available.

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.

Sub-Saharan Africa population growth rate for 2023 was 2.50%, a 0.02% decline from 2022.

<ul style='margin-top:20px;'>

<li>Sub-Saharan Africa population growth rate for 2022 was <strong>2.52%</strong>, a <strong>0.05% decline</strong> from 2021.</li>
<li>Sub-Saharan Africa population growth rate for 2021 was <strong>2.57%</strong>, a <strong>0.04% decline</strong> from 2020.</li>
<li>Sub-Saharan Africa population growth rate for 2020 was <strong>2.61%</strong>, a <strong>0.03% decline</strong> from 2019.</li>
</ul>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.

The average for 2021 based on 47 countries was 119 people per square km. The highest value was in Mauritius: 634 people per square km and the lowest value was in Namibia: 3 people per square km. The indicator is available from 1961 to 2021. Below is a chart for all countries where data are available.

Historical chart and dataset showing Sub-Saharan Africa population density by year from 1961 to 2022.

Nearly eight million refugees lived in Sub-Saharan Africa in 2023. The refugee population in the region has enormously increased in the last decade. As of 2010, 2.2 million individuals forcibly displaced dwelled in Sub-Saharan Africa. Uganda hosted the largest number of refugees in Africa.

Graph and download economic data for Employment to Population Ratio for Developing Countries in Sub-Saharan Africa (SLEMPTOTLSPZSSSA) from 1991 to 2024 about Sub-Saharan Africa, employment-population ratio, employment, and population.

This statistic shows the degree of urbanization in Sub-Saharan Africa from 2013 to 2023. Urbanization means the share of urban population in the total population of a country. Sub-Saharan Africa includes almost all countries south of the Sahara desert. In 2023, 42.99 percent of Sub-Saharan Africa's total population lived in urban areas and cities.

Graph and download economic data for Population ages 65 and above for Developing Countries in Sub-Saharan Africa (SPPOP65UPTOZSSSA) from 1960 to 2023 about Sub-Saharan Africa, 65-years +, and population.

Nigeria has the largest population in Africa. As of 2025, the country counted over 237.5 million individuals, whereas Ethiopia, which ranked second, has around 135.5 million inhabitants. Egypt registered the largest population in North Africa, reaching nearly 118.4 million people. In terms of inhabitants per square kilometer, Nigeria only ranked seventh, while Mauritius had the highest population density on the whole African continent in 2023. The fastest-growing world region Africa is the second most populous continent in the world, after Asia. Nevertheless, Africa records the highest growth rate worldwide, with figures rising by over two percent every year. In some countries, such as Niger, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Chad, the population increase peaks at over three percent. With so many births, Africa is also the youngest continent in the world. However, this coincides with a low life expectancy. African cities on the rise The last decades have seen high urbanization rates in Asia, mainly in China and India. However, African cities are currently growing at larger rates. Indeed, most of the fastest-growing cities in the world are located in Sub-Saharan Africa. Gwagwalada, in Nigeria, and Kabinda, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, ranked first worldwide. By 2035, instead, Africa's fastest-growing cities are forecast to be Bujumbura, in Burundi, and Zinder, Nigeria.

United States - Population Growth for Developing Countries in Sub-Saharan Africa was 2.49729 % Chg. at Annual Rate in January of 2023, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, United States - Population Growth for Developing Countries in Sub-Saharan Africa reached a record high of 2.90713 in January of 1986 and a record low of 2.29933 in January of 1960. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for United States - Population Growth for Developing Countries in Sub-Saharan Africa - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on June of 2025.

Graph and download economic data for Population Ages 15 to 64 for Developing Countries in Sub-Saharan Africa (SPPOP1564TOZSSSA) from 1960 to 2023 about Sub-Saharan Africa, 15 to 64 years, and population.

In 2023, the share of the population with access to electricity in Sub-Saharan Africa increased by 1.7 percentage points (+3.3 percent) compared to 2022. With 53.26 percent, the share thereby reached its highest value in the observed period. Access to electricity refers to the share of the population having the possibility to access electricity

United States - Population, Total for Developing Countries in Sub-Saharan Africa was 1259782580.00000 Persons in January of 2023, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, United States - Population, Total for Developing Countries in Sub-Saharan Africa reached a record high of 1259782580.00000 in January of 2023 and a record low of 227191484.00000 in January of 1960. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for United States - Population, Total for Developing Countries in Sub-Saharan Africa - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on June of 2025.

The total labor force in sub-Saharan Africa was estimated at 451 million people in 2022. By 2023, the number is expected to reach 467 million. According to the source estimates, within the period observed, the total of both the employed and unemployed individuals in the region increased annually.

SP.POP.5559.MA. Male population between the ages 55 to 59. This database presents population and other demographic estimates and projections from 1960 to 2050, covering more than 200 economies. It includes population data by various age groups, sex, urban/rural; fertility data; mortality data; and migration data.