Population of Africa
Source | UN (World Population Prospects 2024) |
Date | 22 Sep 2024 |
The current population of Africa is 1,547,323,048 as of December 06, 2024, based on interpolation of the latest United Nations data. The population of Africa is projected at 1,515,140,849, or 1.52 billion, or 1,515 million, as of July 1, 2024. The total population in Africa is projected at 1,480,770,525, or 1.48 billion, or 1,481 million, for the year 2023. Africa crossed one billion milestones in 2007 and will have close to 4 billion people by the end of the century, as per projection.
Africa has been the second-most populous continent behind Asia since 1995, after overtaking Europe. Africa's share of the world population increased from 9.1 percent in 1950 to the current estimate of 18.56 percent in 2024 and is projected to reach nearly 37.46 percent in 2100.
The Eastern Africa region forms the single largest population block in Africa, followed by the Western Africa region. Eastern Africa accounts for about a third of Africa's population, while the Western Africa region accounts for 30% of Africa. These two regions together account for 63% of the continent's population. Eighteen percent of the African population lives in Northern Africa, 14 percent in Middle Africa, and 4.8 percent in Southern Africa.
Africa has been the fastest-growing continent by population since the year 1972. The continent's annual population growth rate is very high, at 2.30 percent in 2024, and is projected to remain above 2 percent until 2032. The population growth peaked in 1981, with an annual growth rate of 3.04%. Middle Africa is the fastest-growing subregion in Africa, with a growth rate of above 3 percent, followed by Eastern Africa and Western Africa. Southern Africa and Northern Africa are the two regions that have a growth rate below 2%. The population of Africa has increased by 580% since 1950, which is 288% more than the 2nd highest figure in South America at 292%.
Africa will add 34.45 million people in 2024, which is near the population of the 46th-ranked Ghana. The net increase in the per year is projected to peak in 2041, with almost 37.36 million.
- Population
- Growth rate
- Annual Change
- Population
- Growth rate
- Share (%)
Rank | Subregion | Population | Share (%) | Growth (2024) | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2023 | 2024 | Africa | World | Net change | rate (%) | ||||
1 Jan | 1 July | 1 Jan | 1 July | ||||||
1 | Eastern Africa | 481,376,957 | 487,857,331 | 494,337,705 | 500,703,846 | 33.05 | 6.135 | 12,732,282 | 2.58 |
2 | Western Africa | 440,952,989 | 446,044,485 | 451,135,981 | 456,251,329 | 30.11 | 5.590 | 10,230,695 | 2.27 |
3 | Northern Africa | 266,888,866 | 268,541,105 | 270,193,344 | 272,131,339 | 17.96 | 3.334 | 3,875,989 | 1.43 |
4 | Middle Africa | 202,700,272 | 206,129,903 | 209,559,534 | 212,915,636 | 14.05 | 2.609 | 6,712,203 | 3.20 |
5 | Southern Africa | 71,708,059 | 72,197,701 | 72,687,343 | 73,138,701 | 4.83 | 0.896 | 902,715 | 1.24 |
Africa | 1,463,627,143 | 1,480,770,525 | 1,497,913,907 | 1,515,140,849 | 18.563 | 34,453,884 | 2.30 |
Continent | Population | Growth rate (%) against 2024 | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1950 | 2000 | 2050 | 2100 | 1950 | 2000 | 2050 | 2100 | |
Eastern Africa | 65,735,637 | 259,491,404 | 855,453,353 | 1,382,604,934 | 679.73 | 98.14 | 67.35 | 173.25 |
Western Africa | 70,442,149 | 242,586,127 | 734,831,108 | 1,069,781,674 | 561.26 | 92.84 | 58.16 | 132.12 |
Northern Africa | 50,045,357 | 175,569,257 | 373,025,622 | 462,424,933 | 454.15 | 57.58 | 35.49 | 68.77 |
Middle Africa | 26,735,290 | 99,234,666 | 411,712,069 | 790,422,667 | 715.84 | 121.50 | 88.39 | 266.65 |
Southern Africa | 14,817,986 | 53,701,075 | 91,625,466 | 108,649,394 | 401.60 | 37.65 | 24.11 | 47.78 |
Africa | 227,776,419 | 830,582,528 | 2,466,647,618 | 3,813,883,603 | 579.72 | 86.83 | 59.78 | 149.33 |
Year | Population | Growth | Share (%) | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 Jan | 1 July | Net Change | rate (%) | to World | |
1950 | 225,440,040 | 227,776,419 | 4,672,758 | 2.052 | 9.14 |
1951 | 230,112,798 | 232,556,968 | 4,888,341 | 2.102 | 9.17 |
1952 | 235,001,139 | 237,539,541 | 5,076,803 | 2.137 | 9.19 |
1953 | 240,077,942 | 242,685,076 | 5,214,268 | 2.149 | 9.21 |
1954 | 245,292,210 | 248,005,823 | 5,427,226 | 2.188 | 9.23 |
1955 | 250,719,436 | 253,537,855 | 5,636,838 | 2.223 | 9.25 |
1956 | 256,356,274 | 259,271,440 | 5,830,332 | 2.249 | 9.27 |
1957 | 262,186,606 | 265,128,661 | 5,884,110 | 2.219 | 9.29 |
1958 | 268,070,716 | 271,041,740 | 5,942,048 | 2.192 | 9.31 |
1959 | 274,012,764 | 277,271,604 | 6,517,679 | 2.351 | 9.35 |
1960 | 280,530,443 | 283,921,952 | 6,783,017 | 2.389 | 9.42 |
1961 | 287,313,460 | 290,813,744 | 7,000,568 | 2.407 | 9.49 |
1962 | 294,314,028 | 297,959,639 | 7,291,221 | 2.447 | 9.54 |
1963 | 301,605,249 | 305,371,051 | 7,531,604 | 2.467 | 9.56 |
1964 | 309,136,853 | 313,060,399 | 7,847,091 | 2.507 | 9.59 |
1965 | 316,983,944 | 321,013,247 | 8,058,607 | 2.510 | 9.63 |
1966 | 325,042,551 | 329,251,994 | 8,418,887 | 2.557 | 9.67 |
1967 | 333,461,438 | 337,850,716 | 8,778,557 | 2.599 | 9.73 |
1968 | 342,239,995 | 346,800,639 | 9,121,288 | 2.630 | 9.78 |
1969 | 351,361,283 | 356,032,264 | 9,341,962 | 2.624 | 9.84 |
1970 | 360,703,245 | 365,551,873 | 9,697,257 | 2.653 | 9.89 |
1971 | 370,400,502 | 375,326,100 | 9,851,196 | 2.625 | 9.96 |
1972 | 380,251,698 | 385,311,882 | 10,120,368 | 2.627 | 10.02 |
1973 | 390,372,066 | 395,821,652 | 10,899,172 | 2.754 | 10.10 |
1974 | 401,271,238 | 406,869,985 | 11,197,494 | 2.752 | 10.18 |
1975 | 412,468,732 | 418,433,159 | 11,928,854 | 2.851 | 10.28 |
1976 | 424,397,586 | 430,496,635 | 12,198,099 | 2.834 | 10.39 |
1977 | 436,595,685 | 442,660,131 | 12,128,892 | 2.740 | 10.49 |
1978 | 448,724,577 | 455,538,930 | 13,628,706 | 2.992 | 10.61 |
1979 | 462,353,283 | 469,198,168 | 13,689,770 | 2.918 | 10.74 |
1980 | 476,043,053 | 483,051,384 | 14,016,662 | 2.902 | 10.86 |
1981 | 490,059,715 | 497,620,643 | 15,121,856 | 3.039 | 10.99 |
1982 | 505,181,571 | 512,958,548 | 15,553,955 | 3.032 | 11.12 |
1983 | 520,735,526 | 528,232,416 | 14,993,779 | 2.839 | 11.25 |
1984 | 535,729,305 | 543,637,770 | 15,816,931 | 2.910 | 11.37 |
1985 | 551,546,236 | 559,663,770 | 16,235,068 | 2.901 | 11.49 |
1986 | 567,781,304 | 575,966,999 | 16,371,390 | 2.843 | 11.62 |
1987 | 584,152,694 | 592,601,037 | 16,896,685 | 2.851 | 11.74 |
1988 | 601,049,379 | 609,387,389 | 16,676,019 | 2.737 | 11.85 |
1989 | 617,725,398 | 626,358,877 | 17,266,958 | 2.757 | 11.97 |
1990 | 634,992,356 | 643,775,030 | 17,565,348 | 2.729 | 12.08 |
1991 | 652,557,704 | 661,103,505 | 17,091,601 | 2.585 | 12.20 |
1992 | 669,649,305 | 678,557,814 | 17,817,017 | 2.626 | 12.32 |
1993 | 687,466,322 | 696,621,488 | 18,310,332 | 2.629 | 12.46 |
1994 | 705,776,654 | 714,502,387 | 17,451,467 | 2.443 | 12.59 |
1995 | 723,228,121 | 732,695,155 | 18,934,068 | 2.584 | 12.72 |
1996 | 742,162,189 | 751,473,481 | 18,622,585 | 2.478 | 12.86 |
1997 | 760,784,774 | 770,384,405 | 19,199,263 | 2.492 | 13.00 |
1998 | 779,984,037 | 789,981,450 | 19,994,826 | 2.531 | 13.15 |
1999 | 799,978,863 | 810,079,556 | 20,201,385 | 2.494 | 13.30 |
2000 | 820,180,248 | 830,582,528 | 20,804,560 | 2.505 | 13.46 |
2001 | 840,984,808 | 851,690,088 | 21,410,559 | 2.514 | 13.62 |
2002 | 862,395,367 | 873,411,061 | 22,031,389 | 2.523 | 13.78 |
2003 | 884,426,756 | 895,734,228 | 22,614,944 | 2.525 | 13.95 |
2004 | 907,041,700 | 918,778,218 | 23,473,037 | 2.555 | 14.13 |
2005 | 930,514,737 | 942,546,382 | 24,063,290 | 2.553 | 14.31 |
2006 | 954,578,027 | 966,932,145 | 24,708,237 | 2.555 | 14.49 |
2007 | 979,286,264 | 992,055,599 | 25,538,670 | 2.574 | 14.68 |
2008 | 1,004,824,934 | 1,018,065,282 | 26,480,697 | 2.601 | 14.87 |
2009 | 1,031,305,631 | 1,044,777,532 | 26,943,803 | 2.579 | 15.07 |
2010 | 1,058,249,434 | 1,072,216,495 | 27,934,123 | 2.605 | 15.27 |
2011 | 1,086,183,557 | 1,100,148,602 | 27,930,089 | 2.539 | 15.47 |
2012 | 1,114,113,646 | 1,128,843,454 | 29,459,615 | 2.610 | 15.68 |
2013 | 1,143,573,261 | 1,158,780,294 | 30,414,066 | 2.625 | 15.89 |
2014 | 1,173,987,327 | 1,189,220,339 | 30,466,024 | 2.562 | 16.11 |
2015 | 1,204,453,351 | 1,220,075,495 | 31,244,288 | 2.561 | 16.33 |
2016 | 1,235,697,639 | 1,251,208,463 | 31,021,648 | 2.479 | 16.55 |
2017 | 1,266,719,287 | 1,282,902,114 | 32,365,655 | 2.523 | 16.78 |
2018 | 1,299,084,942 | 1,315,409,766 | 32,649,649 | 2.482 | 17.02 |
2019 | 1,331,734,591 | 1,348,005,492 | 32,541,803 | 2.414 | 17.26 |
2020 | 1,364,276,394 | 1,380,821,170 | 33,089,551 | 2.396 | 17.51 |
2021 | 1,397,365,945 | 1,413,753,052 | 32,774,214 | 2.318 | 17.77 |
2022 | 1,430,140,159 | 1,446,883,651 | 33,486,984 | 2.315 | 18.04 |
2023 | 1,463,627,143 | 1,480,770,525 | 34,286,764 | 2.316 | 18.30 |
Year | Population | Growth | Share (%) | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 Jan | 1 July | Net Change | rate (%) | to World | |
2024 | 1,497,913,907 | 1,515,140,849 | 34,453,884 | 2.274 | 18.56 |
2025 | 1,532,367,791 | 1,549,867,579 | 34,999,576 | 2.258 | 18.83 |
2026 | 1,567,367,367 | 1,584,985,259 | 35,235,784 | 2.223 | 19.09 |
2027 | 1,602,603,151 | 1,620,262,069 | 35,317,836 | 2.180 | 19.36 |
2028 | 1,637,920,987 | 1,655,677,485 | 35,512,995 | 2.145 | 19.62 |
2029 | 1,673,433,982 | 1,691,327,029 | 35,786,095 | 2.116 | 19.89 |
2030 | 1,709,220,077 | 1,727,213,466 | 35,986,778 | 2.084 | 20.16 |
2031 | 1,745,206,855 | 1,763,341,330 | 36,268,951 | 2.057 | 20.42 |
2032 | 1,781,475,806 | 1,799,677,857 | 36,404,103 | 2.023 | 20.69 |
2033 | 1,817,879,909 | 1,836,165,164 | 36,570,510 | 1.992 | 20.96 |
2034 | 1,854,450,419 | 1,872,848,566 | 36,796,294 | 1.965 | 21.23 |
2035 | 1,891,246,713 | 1,909,745,188 | 36,996,951 | 1.937 | 21.49 |
2036 | 1,928,243,664 | 1,946,779,565 | 37,071,801 | 1.904 | 21.76 |
2037 | 1,965,315,465 | 1,983,888,830 | 37,146,730 | 1.872 | 22.03 |
2038 | 2,002,462,195 | 2,021,068,887 | 37,213,384 | 1.841 | 22.30 |
2039 | 2,039,675,579 | 2,058,325,999 | 37,300,840 | 1.812 | 22.57 |
2040 | 2,076,976,419 | 2,095,653,385 | 37,353,932 | 1.782 | 22.84 |
2041 | 2,114,330,351 | 2,133,011,264 | 37,361,826 | 1.752 | 23.10 |
2042 | 2,151,692,177 | 2,170,362,489 | 37,340,624 | 1.721 | 23.37 |
2043 | 2,189,032,801 | 2,207,713,442 | 37,361,281 | 1.692 | 23.64 |
2044 | 2,226,394,082 | 2,245,033,359 | 37,278,554 | 1.661 | 23.91 |
2045 | 2,263,672,636 | 2,282,241,718 | 37,138,164 | 1.627 | 24.18 |
2046 | 2,300,810,800 | 2,319,336,205 | 37,050,810 | 1.598 | 24.45 |
2047 | 2,337,861,610 | 2,356,367,847 | 37,012,474 | 1.571 | 24.71 |
2048 | 2,374,874,084 | 2,393,301,289 | 36,854,411 | 1.540 | 24.98 |
2049 | 2,411,728,495 | 2,430,064,258 | 36,671,526 | 1.509 | 25.25 |
2050 | 2,448,400,021 | 2,466,647,618 | 36,495,194 | 1.480 | 25.52 |
2051 | 2,484,895,215 | 2,503,122,519 | 36,454,609 | 1.456 | 25.79 |
2052 | 2,521,349,824 | 2,539,451,377 | 36,203,106 | 1.426 | 26.07 |
2053 | 2,557,552,930 | 2,575,522,782 | 35,939,703 | 1.395 | 26.34 |
2054 | 2,593,492,633 | 2,611,380,458 | 35,775,650 | 1.370 | 26.61 |
2055 | 2,629,268,283 | 2,647,051,974 | 35,567,382 | 1.344 | 26.88 |
2056 | 2,664,835,665 | 2,682,482,476 | 35,293,622 | 1.316 | 27.16 |
2057 | 2,700,129,287 | 2,717,607,367 | 34,956,159 | 1.286 | 27.43 |
2058 | 2,735,085,446 | 2,752,440,400 | 34,709,908 | 1.261 | 27.70 |
2059 | 2,769,795,354 | 2,787,096,127 | 34,601,547 | 1.242 | 27.97 |
2060 | 2,804,396,901 | 2,821,497,089 | 34,200,376 | 1.212 | 28.25 |
2061 | 2,838,597,277 | 2,855,583,532 | 33,972,509 | 1.190 | 28.52 |
2062 | 2,872,569,786 | 2,889,314,504 | 33,489,437 | 1.159 | 28.79 |
2063 | 2,906,059,223 | 2,922,620,947 | 33,123,448 | 1.133 | 29.05 |
2064 | 2,939,182,671 | 2,955,590,716 | 32,816,090 | 1.110 | 29.32 |
2065 | 2,971,998,761 | 2,988,210,863 | 32,424,205 | 1.085 | 29.58 |
2066 | 3,004,422,966 | 3,020,431,499 | 32,017,067 | 1.060 | 29.84 |
2067 | 3,036,440,033 | 3,052,276,105 | 31,672,144 | 1.038 | 30.10 |
2068 | 3,068,112,177 | 3,083,691,197 | 31,158,040 | 1.010 | 30.36 |
2069 | 3,099,270,217 | 3,114,659,621 | 30,778,807 | 0.988 | 30.61 |
2070 | 3,130,049,024 | 3,145,215,299 | 30,332,549 | 0.964 | 30.87 |
2071 | 3,160,381,573 | 3,175,353,103 | 29,943,060 | 0.943 | 31.12 |
2072 | 3,190,324,633 | 3,205,068,473 | 29,487,681 | 0.920 | 31.37 |
2073 | 3,219,812,314 | 3,234,288,652 | 28,952,677 | 0.895 | 31.62 |
2074 | 3,248,764,991 | 3,263,034,380 | 28,538,779 | 0.875 | 31.86 |
2075 | 3,277,303,770 | 3,291,312,265 | 28,016,989 | 0.851 | 32.11 |
2076 | 3,305,320,759 | 3,319,032,005 | 27,422,492 | 0.826 | 32.35 |
2077 | 3,332,743,251 | 3,346,261,902 | 27,037,302 | 0.808 | 32.59 |
2078 | 3,359,780,553 | 3,373,019,604 | 26,478,101 | 0.785 | 32.83 |
2079 | 3,386,258,654 | 3,399,165,518 | 25,813,728 | 0.759 | 33.07 |
2080 | 3,412,072,382 | 3,424,700,645 | 25,256,526 | 0.737 | 33.30 |
2081 | 3,437,328,908 | 3,449,654,771 | 24,651,725 | 0.715 | 33.54 |
2082 | 3,461,980,633 | 3,474,067,601 | 24,173,937 | 0.696 | 33.77 |
2083 | 3,486,154,570 | 3,497,973,774 | 23,638,407 | 0.676 | 34.00 |
2084 | 3,509,792,977 | 3,521,288,019 | 22,990,085 | 0.653 | 34.22 |
2085 | 3,532,783,062 | 3,544,047,838 | 22,529,552 | 0.636 | 34.45 |
2086 | 3,555,312,614 | 3,566,322,712 | 22,020,195 | 0.617 | 34.67 |
2087 | 3,577,332,809 | 3,587,962,922 | 21,260,227 | 0.593 | 34.89 |
2088 | 3,598,593,036 | 3,608,879,968 | 20,573,864 | 0.570 | 35.10 |
2089 | 3,619,166,900 | 3,629,227,530 | 20,121,259 | 0.554 | 35.32 |
2090 | 3,639,288,159 | 3,649,045,629 | 19,514,941 | 0.535 | 35.53 |
2091 | 3,658,803,100 | 3,668,203,742 | 18,801,283 | 0.513 | 35.73 |
2092 | 3,677,604,383 | 3,686,701,893 | 18,195,019 | 0.494 | 35.93 |
2093 | 3,695,799,402 | 3,704,607,591 | 17,616,378 | 0.476 | 36.13 |
2094 | 3,713,415,780 | 3,721,931,319 | 17,031,077 | 0.458 | 36.33 |
2095 | 3,730,446,857 | 3,738,661,364 | 16,429,014 | 0.439 | 36.53 |
2096 | 3,746,875,871 | 3,754,852,618 | 15,953,495 | 0.425 | 36.72 |
2097 | 3,762,829,366 | 3,770,482,449 | 15,306,166 | 0.406 | 36.91 |
2098 | 3,778,135,532 | 3,785,518,323 | 14,765,583 | 0.390 | 37.10 |
2099 | 3,792,901,115 | 3,799,971,486 | 14,140,742 | 0.372 | 37.28 |
2100 | 3,807,041,857 | 3,813,883,603 | 13,683,492 | 0.359 | 37.46 |