Population ages 65 and above, total in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)
Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries): Population ages 65 and above, total was 42.72 million in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
42.72 million
Change on year
up 3.7%
Rank
28th
of 45 groups
All-time high
42.72 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 (IDA & IBRD countries), 1960–2025
Source: World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
Analysis
Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) recorded 42.72 million for population ages 65 and above, total in 2025. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
The figure is 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 (IDA & IBRD countries) peaked at 42.72 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 7.12 million, in 1960.
Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) ranks 28th 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, total in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries), year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 7.12 million | — |
| 1961 | 7.28 million | +2.2% |
| 1962 | 7.45 million | +2.4% |
| 1963 | 7.64 million | +2.4% |
| 1964 | 7.82 million | +2.5% |
| 1965 | 8.02 million | +2.5% |
| 1966 | 8.22 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 | 9.81 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 | 11.29 million | +3.1% |
| 1979 | 11.65 million | +3.2% |
| 1980 | 12.00 million | +3.0% |
| 1981 | 12.35 million | +2.9% |
| 1982 | 12.74 million | +3.1% |
| 1983 | 13.13 million | +3.1% |
| 1984 | 13.51 million | +2.9% |
| 1985 | 13.91 million | +2.9% |
| 1986 | 14.31 million | +2.9% |
| 1987 | 14.74 million | +3.0% |
| 1988 | 15.15 million | +2.8% |
| 1989 | 15.54 million | +2.6% |
| 1990 | 15.94 million | +2.5% |
| 1991 | 16.33 million | +2.5% |
| 1992 | 16.75 million | +2.5% |
| 1993 | 17.16 million | +2.5% |
| 1994 | 17.58 million | +2.4% |
| 1995 | 18.02 million | +2.5% |
| 1996 | 18.49 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 | 20.96 million | +2.6% |
| 2002 | 21.50 million | +2.6% |
| 2003 | 22.06 million | +2.6% |
| 2004 | 22.64 million | +2.6% |
| 2005 | 23.22 million | +2.6% |
| 2006 | 23.82 million | +2.6% |
| 2007 | 24.44 million | +2.6% |
| 2008 | 25.08 million | +2.6% |
| 2009 | 25.74 million | +2.6% |
| 2010 | 26.44 million | +2.7% |
| 2011 | 27.18 million | +2.8% |
| 2012 | 27.97 million | +2.9% |
| 2013 | 28.80 million | +3.0% |
| 2014 | 29.65 million | +2.9% |
| 2015 | 30.54 million | +3.0% |
| 2016 | 31.48 million | +3.1% |
| 2017 | 32.50 million | +3.2% |
| 2018 | 33.64 million | +3.5% |
| 2019 | 34.85 million | +3.6% |
| 2020 | 36.02 million | +3.4% |
| 2021 | 37.16 million | +3.1% |
| 2022 | 38.39 million | +3.3% |
| 2023 | 39.76 million | +3.6% |
| 2024 | 41.21 million | +3.6% |
| 2025 | 42.72 million | +3.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 7.95 million | 7.12 million | 8.86 million | 10 |
| 1970s | 10.27 million | 9.09 million | 11.65 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 13.74 million | 12.00 million | 15.54 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 17.86 million | 15.94 million | 19.92 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 22.99 million | 20.43 million | 25.74 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 30.30 million | 26.44 million | 34.85 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 39.21 million | 36.02 million | 42.72 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)
More health data for Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)
- Population ages 80 and above, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 75-79, female, per capita 0.0031 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 75-79, male, annual growth rate 3.5 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 75-79, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 75-79, male, per capita 0.0023 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 80 and above, female, annual growth rate 3.25 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 80 and above, 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 80 and above, male, per capita 0.0016 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 75-79, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population ages 65 and above, total in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- Population ages 65 and above, total in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) was 42.72 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 (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- The highest recorded value was 42.72 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest population ages 65 and above, total recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.12 million in 1960.
- How does Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) rank for population ages 65 and above, total?
- Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) ranks 28th out of 45 groups with data for 2025.
- Is population ages 65 and above, total rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- 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 (IDA & IBRD countries) 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.