Population ages 65 and above, total in Sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa: Population ages 65 and above, total was 42.72 million in 2025. ◆ Volatile
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.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
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 |
More health data for Sub-Saharan Africa
- Population ages 65 and above, female 3.6% (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, male 269.77 million (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, female 39.8% (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, female 263.91 million (2025)
- Population ages 65 and above 3.2% (2025)
- Population ages 65 and above, male 2.8% (2025)
- Population ages 65 and above, male 18.77 million (2025)
- Population ages 65 and above, female 23.95 million (2025)
- Age dependency ratio 78.1% (2025)
- Age dependency ratio, young 71.6% (2025)
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.
- 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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CSV · JSON — 66 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
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.