Population, total in Africa Western and Central
Africa Western and Central: Population, total was 532.81 million in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
532.81 million
Change on year
up 2.3%
Rank
36th
of 47 groups
All-time high
532.81 million
in 2025
All-time low
97.63 million
in 1960
Years of data
66
1960–2025
Population, total in Africa Western and Central, 1960–2025
Source: World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN).
Analysis
Africa Western and Central recorded 532.81 million for population, total in 2025. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
That represents a change of up 2.3% on the previous year and up 27.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population, total in Africa Western and Central peaked at 532.81 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 97.63 million, in 1960.
That places Africa Western and Central 36th out of 47 groups with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Population, total in Africa Western and Central, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 97.63 million | — |
| 1961 | 99.71 million | +2.1% |
| 1962 | 101.86 million | +2.2% |
| 1963 | 104.09 million | +2.2% |
| 1964 | 106.38 million | +2.2% |
| 1965 | 108.75 million | +2.2% |
| 1966 | 111.20 million | +2.3% |
| 1967 | 113.71 million | +2.3% |
| 1968 | 116.32 million | +2.3% |
| 1969 | 119.08 million | +2.4% |
| 1970 | 121.99 million | +2.4% |
| 1971 | 124.97 million | +2.4% |
| 1972 | 128.07 million | +2.5% |
| 1973 | 131.35 million | +2.6% |
| 1974 | 134.80 million | +2.6% |
| 1975 | 138.46 million | +2.7% |
| 1976 | 142.22 million | +2.7% |
| 1977 | 146.14 million | +2.8% |
| 1978 | 150.28 million | +2.8% |
| 1979 | 154.60 million | +2.9% |
| 1980 | 159.04 million | +2.9% |
| 1981 | 163.63 million | +2.9% |
| 1982 | 168.43 million | +2.9% |
| 1983 | 173.06 million | +2.8% |
| 1984 | 177.65 million | +2.7% |
| 1985 | 182.56 million | +2.8% |
| 1986 | 187.64 million | +2.8% |
| 1987 | 192.84 million | +2.8% |
| 1988 | 198.22 million | +2.8% |
| 1989 | 203.79 million | +2.8% |
| 1990 | 209.28 million | +2.7% |
| 1991 | 214.89 million | +2.7% |
| 1992 | 220.89 million | +2.8% |
| 1993 | 226.93 million | +2.7% |
| 1994 | 233.04 million | +2.7% |
| 1995 | 239.50 million | +2.8% |
| 1996 | 246.13 million | +2.8% |
| 1997 | 252.92 million | +2.8% |
| 1998 | 259.99 million | +2.8% |
| 1999 | 267.17 million | +2.8% |
| 2000 | 274.61 million | +2.8% |
| 2001 | 282.41 million | +2.8% |
| 2002 | 290.46 million | +2.9% |
| 2003 | 298.75 million | +2.9% |
| 2004 | 307.31 million | +2.9% |
| 2005 | 316.16 million | +2.9% |
| 2006 | 325.22 million | +2.9% |
| 2007 | 334.54 million | +2.9% |
| 2008 | 344.15 million | +2.9% |
| 2009 | 353.92 million | +2.8% |
| 2010 | 363.95 million | +2.8% |
| 2011 | 374.37 million | +2.9% |
| 2012 | 384.91 million | +2.8% |
| 2013 | 395.54 million | +2.8% |
| 2014 | 406.46 million | +2.8% |
| 2015 | 417.54 million | +2.7% |
| 2016 | 428.80 million | +2.7% |
| 2017 | 440.15 million | +2.6% |
| 2018 | 451.39 million | +2.6% |
| 2019 | 462.52 million | +2.5% |
| 2020 | 473.69 million | +2.4% |
| 2021 | 484.98 million | +2.4% |
| 2022 | 496.37 million | +2.3% |
| 2023 | 508.32 million | +2.4% |
| 2024 | 520.65 million | +2.4% |
| 2025 | 532.81 million | +2.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 107.87 million | 97.63 million | 119.08 million | 10 |
| 1970s | 137.29 million | 121.99 million | 154.60 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 180.69 million | 159.04 million | 203.79 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 237.07 million | 209.28 million | 267.17 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 312.75 million | 274.61 million | 353.92 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 412.56 million | 363.95 million | 462.52 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 502.80 million | 473.69 million | 532.81 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near Africa Western and Central
More climate change data for Africa Western and Central
- Urban population 284.93 million (2025)
- Population, total, annual growth rate 2.33 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population, total, per unit of GDP 0.0006 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Urban population, annual growth rate 3.49 % change on previous year (2025)
- Urban population, per unit of GDP 0.0003 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Urban population, per capita 0.5348 units per person (2025)
- Urban population growth 3.4% (2025)
- Population growth 2.3% (2025)
- Urban population, per square kilometre 29.39 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Population, total, per square kilometre 56.19 units per square kilometre (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population, total in Africa Western and Central?
- Population, total in Africa Western and Central was 532.81 million in 2025, according to World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest population, total recorded in Africa Western and Central?
- The highest recorded value was 532.81 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest population, total recorded in Africa Western and Central?
- The lowest recorded value was 97.63 million in 1960.
- How does Africa Western and Central rank for population, total?
- Africa Western and Central ranks 36th out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is population, total rising or falling in Africa Western and Central?
- Over the last ten years it is up 27.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Africa Western and Central data come from?
- The figures come from World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), published as part of Population, total. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 66 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Total population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship. The values shown are midyear estimates.