Population ages 65 and above, female in Sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa: Population ages 65 and above, female was 23.95 million in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Population ages 65 and above, female in Sub-Saharan Africa, 1960–2025
Source: World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
Analysis
Sub-Saharan Africa recorded 23.95 million for population ages 65 and above, female in 2025. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
That represents a change of up 3.7% on the previous year and up 40.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population ages 65 and above, female in Sub-Saharan Africa peaked at 23.95 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 3.93 million, in 1960.
Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 29th of 47 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Population ages 65 and above, female in Sub-Saharan Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 3.93 million | — |
| 1961 | 4.02 million | +2.3% |
| 1962 | 4.12 million | +2.5% |
| 1963 | 4.22 million | +2.5% |
| 1964 | 4.33 million | +2.5% |
| 1965 | 4.43 million | +2.5% |
| 1966 | 4.54 million | +2.4% |
| 1967 | 4.65 million | +2.4% |
| 1968 | 4.77 million | +2.5% |
| 1969 | 4.89 million | +2.6% |
| 1970 | 5.02 million | +2.6% |
| 1971 | 5.14 million | +2.5% |
| 1972 | 5.27 million | +2.5% |
| 1973 | 5.40 million | +2.6% |
| 1974 | 5.55 million | +2.7% |
| 1975 | 5.70 million | +2.7% |
| 1976 | 5.86 million | +2.7% |
| 1977 | 6.02 million | +2.8% |
| 1978 | 6.20 million | +3.0% |
| 1979 | 6.40 million | +3.1% |
| 1980 | 6.58 million | +2.9% |
| 1981 | 6.78 million | +2.9% |
| 1982 | 6.99 million | +3.2% |
| 1983 | 7.21 million | +3.1% |
| 1984 | 7.43 million | +3.0% |
| 1985 | 7.65 million | +3.0% |
| 1986 | 7.87 million | +2.9% |
| 1987 | 8.11 million | +3.0% |
| 1988 | 8.34 million | +2.8% |
| 1989 | 8.55 million | +2.6% |
| 1990 | 8.77 million | +2.5% |
| 1991 | 8.98 million | +2.4% |
| 1992 | 9.21 million | +2.5% |
| 1993 | 9.43 million | +2.5% |
| 1994 | 9.67 million | +2.5% |
| 1995 | 9.94 million | +2.7% |
| 1996 | 10.22 million | +2.8% |
| 1997 | 10.50 million | +2.8% |
| 1998 | 10.78 million | +2.6% |
| 1999 | 11.07 million | +2.7% |
| 2000 | 11.37 million | +2.7% |
| 2001 | 11.67 million | +2.7% |
| 2002 | 11.99 million | +2.7% |
| 2003 | 12.31 million | +2.7% |
| 2004 | 12.63 million | +2.6% |
| 2005 | 12.96 million | +2.6% |
| 2006 | 13.30 million | +2.6% |
| 2007 | 13.64 million | +2.6% |
| 2008 | 13.99 million | +2.6% |
| 2009 | 14.35 million | +2.6% |
| 2010 | 14.74 million | +2.7% |
| 2011 | 15.14 million | +2.8% |
| 2012 | 15.58 million | +2.8% |
| 2013 | 16.03 million | +2.9% |
| 2014 | 16.50 million | +2.9% |
| 2015 | 17.00 million | +3.0% |
| 2016 | 17.53 million | +3.1% |
| 2017 | 18.10 million | +3.3% |
| 2018 | 18.75 million | +3.6% |
| 2019 | 19.43 million | +3.7% |
| 2020 | 20.11 million | +3.5% |
| 2021 | 20.77 million | +3.3% |
| 2022 | 21.47 million | +3.4% |
| 2023 | 22.26 million | +3.6% |
| 2024 | 23.09 million | +3.7% |
| 2025 | 23.95 million | +3.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 4.39 million | 3.93 million | 4.89 million | 10 |
| 1970s | 5.66 million | 5.02 million | 6.40 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 7.55 million | 6.58 million | 8.55 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 9.86 million | 8.77 million | 11.07 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 12.82 million | 11.37 million | 14.35 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 16.88 million | 14.74 million | 19.43 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 21.94 million | 20.11 million | 23.95 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa
More health data for Sub-Saharan Africa
- Population ages 0-14, female, per capita 0.1997 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 35-39, male, per capita 0.0282 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 35-39, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, female, annual growth rate 1.61 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 35-39, male, annual growth rate 2.8 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, female, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 35-39, female, per capita 0.0287 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, male, per capita 0.2041 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, male, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 40-44, female, annual growth rate 3.23 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population ages 65 and above, female in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Population ages 65 and above, female in Sub-Saharan Africa was 23.95 million in 2025, according to World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
- What is the highest population ages 65 and above, female recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 23.95 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest population ages 65 and above, female recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.93 million in 1960.
- How does Sub-Saharan Africa rank for population ages 65 and above, female?
- Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 29th out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is population ages 65 and above, female rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 40.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sub-Saharan Africa data come from?
- The figures come from World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division, published as part of Population ages 65 and above, female. 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
Female population 65 years of age or older. Population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship.