Population growth in Sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa: Population growth was 2.4% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Population growth in Sub-Saharan Africa, 1961–2025
Source: World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), note: Derived from total population, publisher: UN Population Division. Measured in annual %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for population growth in Sub-Saharan Africa is 2.4%, measured in 2025.
The figure is down 0.6% on the previous year and down 9.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population growth in Sub-Saharan Africa peaked at 3.1% in 1982 and was at its lowest, 2.4%, in 1961.
Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 6th of 45 groups on this measure, in the top quarter.
Population growth in Sub-Saharan Africa, year by year
| Year | annual % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 2.4% | — |
| 1962 | 2.4% | +2.0% |
| 1963 | 2.5% | +1.3% |
| 1964 | 2.5% | +1.5% |
| 1965 | 2.6% | +1.3% |
| 1966 | 2.6% | +0.4% |
| 1967 | 2.6% | +0.9% |
| 1968 | 2.6% | +1.6% |
| 1969 | 2.7% | +1.3% |
| 1970 | 2.7% | +1.0% |
| 1971 | 2.7% | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 2.7% | -0.4% |
| 1973 | 2.8% | +2.8% |
| 1974 | 2.8% | +2.3% |
| 1975 | 2.8% | +0.0% |
| 1976 | 2.8% | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 2.8% | -1.3% |
| 1978 | 2.9% | +4.5% |
| 1979 | 3.0% | +3.4% |
| 1980 | 2.9% | -2.5% |
| 1981 | 3.0% | +2.1% |
| 1982 | 3.1% | +3.1% |
| 1983 | 3.0% | -3.9% |
| 1984 | 2.9% | -3.3% |
| 1985 | 2.9% | +1.1% |
| 1986 | 2.9% | -0.3% |
| 1987 | 2.9% | +0.1% |
| 1988 | 2.8% | -1.8% |
| 1989 | 2.8% | -1.3% |
| 1990 | 2.8% | -0.7% |
| 1991 | 2.7% | -2.8% |
| 1992 | 2.7% | -0.3% |
| 1993 | 2.7% | +1.5% |
| 1994 | 2.7% | -3.0% |
| 1995 | 2.7% | -0.3% |
| 1996 | 2.7% | +1.0% |
| 1997 | 2.6% | -1.9% |
| 1998 | 2.7% | +1.1% |
| 1999 | 2.7% | +0.3% |
| 2000 | 2.7% | -0.3% |
| 2001 | 2.7% | +0.6% |
| 2002 | 2.7% | +0.6% |
| 2003 | 2.7% | +0.3% |
| 2004 | 2.7% | +0.7% |
| 2005 | 2.7% | +0.5% |
| 2006 | 2.7% | +0.1% |
| 2007 | 2.7% | +0.5% |
| 2008 | 2.8% | +0.8% |
| 2009 | 2.8% | -0.2% |
| 2010 | 2.8% | -0.1% |
| 2011 | 2.7% | -0.6% |
| 2012 | 2.7% | -0.5% |
| 2013 | 2.7% | +0.4% |
| 2014 | 2.7% | -1.0% |
| 2015 | 2.7% | -0.6% |
| 2016 | 2.6% | -1.7% |
| 2017 | 2.6% | -0.7% |
| 2018 | 2.6% | +0.7% |
| 2019 | 2.6% | -1.6% |
| 2020 | 2.6% | -1.3% |
| 2021 | 2.5% | -1.6% |
| 2022 | 2.5% | -1.9% |
| 2023 | 2.5% | -0.8% |
| 2024 | 2.4% | -0.8% |
| 2025 | 2.4% | -0.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 2.5% | 2.4% | 2.7% | 9 |
| 1970s | 2.8% | 2.7% | 3.0% | 10 |
| 1980s | 2.9% | 2.8% | 3.1% | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.7% | 2.6% | 2.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.7% | 2.7% | 2.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.7% | 2.6% | 2.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.5% | 2.4% | 2.6% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa
More climate change data for Sub-Saharan Africa
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Indirect emissions (N2O that) 6.71 kt (2050)
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Indirect emissions (N2O that leaches) 15.1 kt (2050)
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers 67.1 kt (2050)
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers 88.91 kt (2050)
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers 4.27 billion kg (2050)
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Nitrogen fertilizer content applied 427.00 million kg (2050)
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Nitrogen fertilizer content applied 1.28 billion kg (2050)
- All Crops — Burning crop residues 137.43 kt (2050)
- All Crops — Burning crop residues 3.56 kt (2050)
- All Crops — Burning crop residues 50.90 million t (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population growth in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Population growth in Sub-Saharan Africa was 2.4% in 2025, according to World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), note: Derived from total population, publisher: UN Population Division.
- What is the highest population growth recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 3.1% in 1982.
- What is the lowest population growth recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.4% in 1961.
- How does Sub-Saharan Africa rank for population growth?
- Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 6th out of 45 groups with data for 2025.
- Is population growth rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 9.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Sub-Saharan Africa data come from?
- The figures come from World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), note: Derived from total population, publisher: UN Population Division, published as part of Population growth (annual %). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
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.