Population ages 65 and above in Sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa: Population ages 65 and above was 3.2% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Population ages 65 and above in Sub-Saharan Africa, 1960–2025
Source: World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division. Measured in % of total population.
Analysis
Sub-Saharan Africa recorded 3.2% for population ages 65 and above in 2025. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.2% on the previous year and up 8.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population ages 65 and above in Sub-Saharan Africa peaked at 3.2% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 3.0%, in 2010.
That places Sub-Saharan Africa 42nd out of 47 groups with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
Population ages 65 and above in Sub-Saharan Africa, year by year
| Year | % of total population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 3.1% | — |
| 1961 | 3.1% | -0.2% |
| 1962 | 3.1% | -0.1% |
| 1963 | 3.1% | -0.1% |
| 1964 | 3.1% | -0.1% |
| 1965 | 3.1% | -0.1% |
| 1966 | 3.1% | -0.1% |
| 1967 | 3.1% | -0.1% |
| 1968 | 3.1% | -0.1% |
| 1969 | 3.1% | -0.1% |
| 1970 | 3.1% | -0.1% |
| 1971 | 3.1% | -0.2% |
| 1972 | 3.1% | -0.2% |
| 1973 | 3.1% | -0.1% |
| 1974 | 3.1% | -0.1% |
| 1975 | 3.1% | -0.1% |
| 1976 | 3.1% | -0.1% |
| 1977 | 3.1% | +0.0% |
| 1978 | 3.1% | +0.1% |
| 1979 | 3.1% | +0.2% |
| 1980 | 3.1% | -0.0% |
| 1981 | 3.1% | -0.1% |
| 1982 | 3.1% | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 3.1% | +0.1% |
| 1984 | 3.1% | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 3.1% | -0.0% |
| 1986 | 3.1% | -0.1% |
| 1987 | 3.1% | +0.1% |
| 1988 | 3.1% | -0.0% |
| 1989 | 3.1% | -0.3% |
| 1990 | 3.1% | -0.3% |
| 1991 | 3.1% | -0.2% |
| 1992 | 3.0% | -0.2% |
| 1993 | 3.0% | -0.3% |
| 1994 | 3.0% | -0.2% |
| 1995 | 3.0% | -0.1% |
| 1996 | 3.0% | -0.1% |
| 1997 | 3.0% | -0.1% |
| 1998 | 3.0% | -0.2% |
| 1999 | 3.0% | -0.2% |
| 2000 | 3.0% | -0.1% |
| 2001 | 3.0% | -0.1% |
| 2002 | 3.0% | -0.1% |
| 2003 | 3.0% | -0.1% |
| 2004 | 3.0% | -0.2% |
| 2005 | 3.0% | -0.2% |
| 2006 | 3.0% | -0.2% |
| 2007 | 3.0% | -0.2% |
| 2008 | 3.0% | -0.2% |
| 2009 | 3.0% | -0.2% |
| 2010 | 3.0% | -0.1% |
| 2011 | 3.0% | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 3.0% | +0.1% |
| 2013 | 3.0% | +0.2% |
| 2014 | 3.0% | +0.2% |
| 2015 | 3.0% | +0.3% |
| 2016 | 3.0% | +0.4% |
| 2017 | 3.0% | +0.6% |
| 2018 | 3.0% | +0.8% |
| 2019 | 3.1% | +0.9% |
| 2020 | 3.1% | +0.8% |
| 2021 | 3.1% | +0.6% |
| 2022 | 3.1% | +0.8% |
| 2023 | 3.2% | +1.0% |
| 2024 | 3.2% | +1.1% |
| 2025 | 3.2% | +1.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 3.1% | 3.1% | 3.1% | 10 |
| 1970s | 3.1% | 3.1% | 3.1% | 10 |
| 1980s | 3.1% | 3.1% | 3.1% | 10 |
| 1990s | 3.0% | 3.0% | 3.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.0% | 3.0% | 3.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.0% | 3.0% | 3.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.1% | 3.1% | 3.2% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa
- 39 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 19.7% compare
- 40 Saint Martin (French Part) 19.7% compare
- 41 Norway 19.1% compare
- 42 Slovakia 19.0% compare
- 43 Ukraine 19.0% compare
- 44 North Macedonia 18.5% compare
- 45 United States of America 18.4% compare
More health data for Sub-Saharan Africa
- Population ages 65 and above, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population, female, per unit of GDP 0.0003 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 65-69, female, annual growth rate 3.61 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population, female, annual growth rate 2.45 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 65 and above, total, per capita 0.0323 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 65 and above, total, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 65-69, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 65 and above, total, annual growth rate 3.67 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 65 and above, male, per capita 0.0142 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 15-64, total, per capita 0.5639 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population ages 65 and above in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Population ages 65 and above in Sub-Saharan Africa was 3.2% in 2025, according to World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
- What is the highest population ages 65 and above recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 3.2% in 2025.
- What is the lowest population ages 65 and above recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.0% in 2010.
- How does Sub-Saharan Africa rank for population ages 65 and above?
- Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 42nd out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is population ages 65 and above rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 8.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- 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 (% of total population). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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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.