Population, female in Sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa: Population, female was 50.2% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Latest (2025)
50.2%
Change on year
down 0.0%
Rank
20th
of 47 groups
All-time high
50.6%
in 1997
All-time low
50.2%
in 2025
Years of data
66
1960–2025
Population, female in Sub-Saharan Africa, 1960–2025
Source: World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division. Measured in % of total population.
Analysis
In 2025, population, female in Sub-Saharan Africa stood at 50.2%. That is the lowest value across all 66 years on record.
That represents a change of down 0.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population, female in Sub-Saharan Africa peaked at 50.6% in 1997 and was at its lowest, 50.2%, in 2025.
That places Sub-Saharan Africa 20th out of 47 groups with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
Population, female in Sub-Saharan Africa, year by year
| Year | % of total population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 50.4% | — |
| 1961 | 50.4% | +0.0% |
| 1962 | 50.5% | +0.0% |
| 1963 | 50.5% | +0.0% |
| 1964 | 50.5% | +0.0% |
| 1965 | 50.5% | +0.0% |
| 1966 | 50.5% | +0.0% |
| 1967 | 50.5% | +0.0% |
| 1968 | 50.5% | +0.0% |
| 1969 | 50.5% | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 50.5% | +0.0% |
| 1971 | 50.5% | -0.0% |
| 1972 | 50.5% | -0.0% |
| 1973 | 50.5% | -0.0% |
| 1974 | 50.5% | -0.0% |
| 1975 | 50.5% | -0.0% |
| 1976 | 50.5% | -0.0% |
| 1977 | 50.5% | +0.0% |
| 1978 | 50.5% | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 50.5% | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 50.5% | -0.0% |
| 1981 | 50.5% | -0.0% |
| 1982 | 50.5% | -0.0% |
| 1983 | 50.5% | -0.0% |
| 1984 | 50.5% | -0.0% |
| 1985 | 50.5% | -0.0% |
| 1986 | 50.4% | -0.0% |
| 1987 | 50.4% | -0.0% |
| 1988 | 50.4% | -0.0% |
| 1989 | 50.4% | -0.0% |
| 1990 | 50.4% | -0.0% |
| 1991 | 50.4% | -0.0% |
| 1992 | 50.4% | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 50.3% | -0.1% |
| 1994 | 50.4% | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 50.5% | +0.2% |
| 1996 | 50.5% | +0.1% |
| 1997 | 50.6% | +0.1% |
| 1998 | 50.6% | -0.0% |
| 1999 | 50.5% | -0.0% |
| 2000 | 50.5% | -0.0% |
| 2001 | 50.5% | -0.0% |
| 2002 | 50.5% | -0.0% |
| 2003 | 50.5% | -0.0% |
| 2004 | 50.5% | -0.0% |
| 2005 | 50.4% | -0.0% |
| 2006 | 50.4% | -0.0% |
| 2007 | 50.4% | -0.0% |
| 2008 | 50.4% | -0.0% |
| 2009 | 50.4% | -0.0% |
| 2010 | 50.3% | -0.0% |
| 2011 | 50.3% | -0.0% |
| 2012 | 50.3% | -0.0% |
| 2013 | 50.3% | -0.0% |
| 2014 | 50.3% | -0.0% |
| 2015 | 50.2% | -0.0% |
| 2016 | 50.2% | -0.0% |
| 2017 | 50.2% | -0.0% |
| 2018 | 50.2% | -0.0% |
| 2019 | 50.2% | -0.0% |
| 2020 | 50.2% | -0.0% |
| 2021 | 50.2% | -0.0% |
| 2022 | 50.2% | -0.0% |
| 2023 | 50.2% | -0.0% |
| 2024 | 50.2% | -0.0% |
| 2025 | 50.2% | -0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 50.5% | 50.4% | 50.5% | 10 |
| 1970s | 50.5% | 50.5% | 50.5% | 10 |
| 1980s | 50.4% | 50.4% | 50.5% | 10 |
| 1990s | 50.4% | 50.3% | 50.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 50.4% | 50.4% | 50.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 50.3% | 50.2% | 50.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 50.2% | 50.2% | 50.2% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa
- 17 United States Virgin Islands 52.6% compare
- 18 El Salvador 52.5% compare
- 19 Estonia 52.4% compare
- 20 Antigua and Barbuda 52.4% compare
- 21 Bosnia and Herzegovina 52.4% compare
- 22 Portugal 52.4% compare
- 23 Curaçao 52.4% compare
More health data for Sub-Saharan Africa
- Population ages 70-74, female, per capita 0.0051 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 65-69, male, per capita 0.0062 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 70-74, female, annual growth rate 4.09 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population, female, per capita 0.5015 units per person (2025)
- Population, female, per unit of GDP 0.0003 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 70-74, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (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 and above, female, per capita 0.0181 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population, female in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Population, female in Sub-Saharan Africa was 50.2% in 2025, according to World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
- What is the highest population, female recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 50.6% in 1997.
- What is the lowest population, female recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 50.2% in 2025.
- How does Sub-Saharan Africa rank for population, female?
- Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 20th out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is population, female rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.2%. 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, female (% of total population). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Female population is the percentage of the population that is female. Population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship.