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
Latest (2025)
23.95 million
Change on year
up 3.7%
Rank
27th
of 45 groups
All-time high
23.95 million
in 2025
All-time low
3.93 million
in 1960
Years of data
66
1960–2025
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 27th of 45 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, total, per capita 0.4038 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 15-64, total, annual growth rate 3 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 15-64, male, per capita 0.2801 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 15-64, male, per unit of GDP 0.0002 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 15-64, male, annual growth rate 3.04 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 15-64, female, per capita 0.2837 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 15-64, female, per unit of GDP 0.0002 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 15-64, female, annual growth rate 2.96 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, male, annual growth rate 1.63 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, male, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (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 27th out of 45 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.
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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.