South Africa vs Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income): Population ages 15-64, total
Population ages 15-64, total over time
- South Africa
- Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)
How they compare
Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) currently reports 745.17 million against 43.63 million in South Africa, a difference of 701.53 million.
That makes Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)'s figure about 17.1 times South Africa's.
Across all 66 years both countries report, Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) has been ahead every year.
South Africa ranks 22nd and Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) ranks 21st of 218 countries.
Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) has averaged higher in every one of the 7 decades both report.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | South Africa | Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 10.28 million | 136.16 million | 125.88 million | Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) |
| 1970s | 13.81 million | 173.47 million | 159.66 million | Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) |
| 1980s | 19.58 million | 229.57 million | 210.00 million | Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) |
| 1990s | 25.81 million | 305.78 million | 279.96 million | Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) |
| 2000s | 31.19 million | 406.55 million | 375.36 million | Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) |
| 2010s | 36.95 million | 544.96 million | 508.01 million | Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) |
| 2020s | 42.20 million | 692.61 million | 650.41 million | Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher population ages 15-64, total, South Africa or Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)?
- Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income), at 745.17 million against 43.63 million in South Africa as of 2025.
- What is the difference in population ages 15-64, total between South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)?
- 701.53 million, with Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)?
- 66 years are reported by both, from 1960 to 2025.
- How do South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) rank globally for population ages 15-64, total?
- South Africa ranks 22nd and Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) ranks 21st of 218 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division, published as Population ages 15-64, total. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.
Individual pages
About this data
Total population between the ages 15 to 64. Population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship.