Sub-Saharan Africa vs United States: Population ages 65 and above
Sub-Saharan Africa
3.2%
in 2025
United States
18.4%
in 2025
Sub-Saharan Africa rank
42nd
United States rank
45th
Population ages 65 and above over time
- Sub-Saharan Africa
- United States
How they compare
United States currently reports 18.4% against 3.2% in Sub-Saharan Africa, a difference of 15.2%.
That makes United States's figure about 5.7 times Sub-Saharan Africa's.
Across all 66 years both countries report, United States has been ahead every year.
Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 42nd and United States ranks 45th of 47 groups.
United States has averaged higher in every one of the 7 decades both report.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | Sub-Saharan Africa | United States | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 3.1% | 9.2% | 6.1% | United States |
| 1970s | 3.1% | 10.3% | 7.2% | United States |
| 1980s | 3.1% | 11.7% | 8.6% | United States |
| 1990s | 3.0% | 12.4% | 9.3% | United States |
| 2000s | 3.0% | 12.2% | 9.3% | United States |
| 2010s | 3.0% | 14.2% | 11.2% | United States |
| 2020s | 3.1% | 17.2% | 14.1% | United States |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher population ages 65 and above, Sub-Saharan Africa or United States?
- United States, at 18.4% against 3.2% in Sub-Saharan Africa as of 2025.
- What is the difference in population ages 65 and above between Sub-Saharan Africa and United States?
- 15.2%, with United States ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for Sub-Saharan Africa and United States?
- 66 years are reported by both, from 1960 to 2025.
- How do Sub-Saharan Africa and United States rank globally for population ages 65 and above?
- Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 42nd and United States ranks 45th of 47 groups.
- Where does this data come from?
- World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division, published as Population ages 65 and above (% of total population). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.
Individual pages
About this data
Population ages 65 and above as a percentage of the total population. Population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship.