Population ages 65 and above, total in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)
Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income): Population ages 65 and above, total was 42.71 million in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
42.71 million
Change on year
up 3.7%
Rank
32nd
of 47 groups
All-time high
42.71 million
in 2025
All-time low
7.12 million
in 1960
Years of data
66
1960–2025
Population ages 65 and above, total in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income), 1960–2025
Source: World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
Analysis
The most recent figure for population ages 65 and above, total in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) is 42.71 million, measured 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 39.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population ages 65 and above, total in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) peaked at 42.71 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 7.12 million, in 1960.
That places Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) 32nd out of 47 groups with data for 2025, putting it 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, total in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income), year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 7.12 million | — |
| 1961 | 7.28 million | +2.2% |
| 1962 | 7.45 million | +2.4% |
| 1963 | 7.63 million | +2.4% |
| 1964 | 7.82 million | +2.5% |
| 1965 | 8.01 million | +2.5% |
| 1966 | 8.21 million | +2.5% |
| 1967 | 8.42 million | +2.5% |
| 1968 | 8.63 million | +2.6% |
| 1969 | 8.86 million | +2.6% |
| 1970 | 9.09 million | +2.6% |
| 1971 | 9.32 million | +2.5% |
| 1972 | 9.55 million | +2.5% |
| 1973 | 9.80 million | +2.6% |
| 1974 | 10.07 million | +2.7% |
| 1975 | 10.35 million | +2.8% |
| 1976 | 10.64 million | +2.8% |
| 1977 | 10.95 million | +2.9% |
| 1978 | 11.28 million | +3.1% |
| 1979 | 11.65 million | +3.2% |
| 1980 | 12.00 million | +3.0% |
| 1981 | 12.34 million | +2.9% |
| 1982 | 12.73 million | +3.1% |
| 1983 | 13.12 million | +3.1% |
| 1984 | 13.51 million | +3.0% |
| 1985 | 13.91 million | +2.9% |
| 1986 | 14.30 million | +2.9% |
| 1987 | 14.73 million | +3.0% |
| 1988 | 15.15 million | +2.8% |
| 1989 | 15.54 million | +2.6% |
| 1990 | 15.93 million | +2.5% |
| 1991 | 16.33 million | +2.5% |
| 1992 | 16.74 million | +2.5% |
| 1993 | 17.15 million | +2.5% |
| 1994 | 17.57 million | +2.4% |
| 1995 | 18.02 million | +2.5% |
| 1996 | 18.48 million | +2.6% |
| 1997 | 18.96 million | +2.6% |
| 1998 | 19.43 million | +2.5% |
| 1999 | 19.92 million | +2.5% |
| 2000 | 20.43 million | +2.6% |
| 2001 | 20.95 million | +2.6% |
| 2002 | 21.50 million | +2.6% |
| 2003 | 22.06 million | +2.6% |
| 2004 | 22.63 million | +2.6% |
| 2005 | 23.22 million | +2.6% |
| 2006 | 23.82 million | +2.6% |
| 2007 | 24.43 million | +2.6% |
| 2008 | 25.07 million | +2.6% |
| 2009 | 25.73 million | +2.6% |
| 2010 | 26.43 million | +2.7% |
| 2011 | 27.17 million | +2.8% |
| 2012 | 27.97 million | +2.9% |
| 2013 | 28.80 million | +3.0% |
| 2014 | 29.64 million | +2.9% |
| 2015 | 30.53 million | +3.0% |
| 2016 | 31.47 million | +3.1% |
| 2017 | 32.49 million | +3.2% |
| 2018 | 33.63 million | +3.5% |
| 2019 | 34.84 million | +3.6% |
| 2020 | 36.02 million | +3.4% |
| 2021 | 37.15 million | +3.1% |
| 2022 | 38.38 million | +3.3% |
| 2023 | 39.75 million | +3.6% |
| 2024 | 41.20 million | +3.6% |
| 2025 | 42.71 million | +3.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 7.94 million | 7.12 million | 8.86 million | 10 |
| 1970s | 10.27 million | 9.09 million | 11.65 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 13.73 million | 12.00 million | 15.54 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 17.85 million | 15.93 million | 19.92 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 22.98 million | 20.43 million | 25.73 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 30.30 million | 26.43 million | 34.84 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 39.20 million | 36.02 million | 42.71 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)
- 29 Australia 5.00 million compare
- 30 Ethiopia 4.46 million compare
- 31 South Africa 4.46 million compare
- 32 Myanmar 4.13 million compare
- 33 Romania 3.83 million compare
- 34 Netherlands 3.77 million compare
- 35 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 3.48 million compare
More health data for Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)
- Population ages 65-69, male, annual growth rate 3.53 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 70-74, male, annual growth rate 3.8 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 70-74, female, per capita 0.0051 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 70-74, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 70-74, female, annual growth rate 4.09 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 65-69, male, per capita 0.0062 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 65-69, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 65-69, female, annual growth rate 3.6 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 60-64, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 60-64, male, per capita 0.0086 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population ages 65 and above, total in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)?
- Population ages 65 and above, total in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) was 42.71 million in 2025, according to World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
- What is the highest population ages 65 and above, total recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)?
- The highest recorded value was 42.71 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest population ages 65 and above, total recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.12 million in 1960.
- How does Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) rank for population ages 65 and above, total?
- Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) ranks 32nd out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is population ages 65 and above, total rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)?
- Over the last ten years it is up 39.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) 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, total. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Total 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.