What is the highest population ages 65 and above, total recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?

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?

The lowest recorded value was 7.12 million in 1960.

How does Sub-Saharan Africa rank for population ages 65 and above, total?

Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 28th out of 45 groups with data for 2025.

Is population ages 65 and above, total rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa?

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 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.

Population ages 65 and above, total in Sub-Saharan Africa

Name: Population ages 65 and above, total in Sub-Saharan Africa
Creator: World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division
License: CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)

Sub-Saharan Africa: 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

1960–2025

Population ages 65 and above, total in Sub-Saharan Africa, 1960–2025

Source: World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.

Analysis

In 2025, population ages 65 and above, total in Sub-Saharan Africa stood at 42.72 million. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it 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 peaked at 42.72 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 7.12 million, in 1960.

That places Sub-Saharan Africa 28th out of 45 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, year by year

Annual values for Population ages 65 and above, total in Sub-Saharan Africa, 1960 to 2025.
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

25 Philippines 6.68 million compare
26 Egypt 6.24 million compare
27 Argentina 5.79 million compare
28 Colombia 5.45 million compare
29 Australia 5.00 million compare
30 Ethiopia 4.46 million compare
31 South Africa 4.46 million compare

See the full ranking of 265 places →

More health data for Sub-Saharan Africa

Population ages 15-64, total, annual growth rate 3 % change on previous year (2025)
Population ages 65 and above, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Population ages 65 and above, female, annual growth rate 3.74 % change on previous year (2025)
Population ages 15-64, total, per capita 0.5639 units per person (2025)
Population ages 15-64, total, per unit of GDP 0.0003 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Population, male, per unit of GDP 0.0003 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Population ages 15-64, male, per capita 0.2801 units per person (2025)
Population, male, per capita 0.4985 units per person (2025)
Population ages 65 and above, female, per capita 0.0181 units per person (2025)
Population, male, annual growth rate 2.47 % change on previous year (2025)

All data for Sub-Saharan Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is population ages 65 and above, total in Sub-Saharan Africa?: Population ages 65 and above, total in Sub-Saharan Africa 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?: 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?: The lowest recorded value was 7.12 million in 1960.
How does Sub-Saharan Africa rank for population ages 65 and above, total?: Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 28th out of 45 groups with data for 2025.
Is population ages 65 and above, total rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa?: 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 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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Population ages 65 and above, total in Sub-Saharan Africa. Statizoid, drawing on World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division. Retrieved 28 August 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/population-ages-65-and-above-total/sub-saharan-africa/

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About this data

Indicator: Population ages 65 and above, total
Source: World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage: 265 places, 17,460 data points, 1960–2025
Last refreshed: 20 August 2026

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.