List of African countries by population
Updated: 11/6/2025, 2:14:36 AM Wikipedia source
This is a list of the current 54 African countries sorted by population, also sorted by normalized demographic projections from the most recently available census or demographic data. Africa is the fastest growing continent in the world, currently increasing by 2.35% per year as of 2021. Africa is also the continent with the youngest population, as 60% of Africans are 24 years of age or younger. This list also includes the French department Réunion, and the partially recognized country Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, commonly known as Western Sahara, which is a member of the African Union.
Tables
· Table
1
1
Col 1
1
Country
Nigeria
%Africa
15.4%
Population
227,882,945
%growth
2.12%
Officialfigure
216,783,400
Officialdate
21 Mar 2022
2
2
Col 1
2
Country
Ethiopia
%Africa
8.7%
Population
128,691,692
%growth
2.64%
Officialfigure
107,334,000
Officialdate
1 Jul 2023
3
3
Col 1
3
Country
Egypt
%Africa
7.7%
Population
114,535,772
%growth
1.70%
Officialfigure
102,060,688
Officialdate
1 Jul 2021
4
4
Col 1
4
Country
DR Congo
%Africa
7.1%
Population
105,789,731
%growth
3.31%
Officialfigure
95,370,000
Officialdate
1 Jul 2019
5
5
Col 1
5
Country
Tanzania
%Africa
4.5%
Population
66,617,606
%growth
2.95%
Officialfigure
61,741,120
Officialdate
23 Aug 2022
6
6
Col 1
6
Country
South Africa
%Africa
4.3%
Population
63,212,384
%growth
1.34%
Officialfigure
59,604,992
Officialdate
1 Jul 2022
7
7
Col 1
7
Country
Kenya
%Africa
3.7%
Population
55,339,003
%growth
2.00%
Officialfigure
51,526,000
Officialdate
1 Jan 2023
8
8
Col 1
8
Country
Sudan
%Africa
3.4%
Population
50,042,791
%growth
1.34%
Officialfigure
41,984,500
Officialdate
1 Jul 2018
9
9
Col 1
9
Country
Uganda
%Africa
3.3%
Population
48,656,601
%growth
2.84%
Officialfigure
41,583,600
Officialdate
1 Jul 2020
10
10
Col 1
10
Country
Algeria
%Africa
3.1%
Population
46,164,219
%growth
1.51%
Officialfigure
44,700,000
Officialdate
1 Jan 2021
11
11
Col 1
11
Country
Morocco
%Africa
2.5%
Population
37,712,505
%growth
1.03%
Officialfigure
37,438,314
Officialdate
9 Sep 2024
12
12
Col 1
12
Country
Angola
%Africa
2.5%
Population
36,749,906
%growth
3.13%
Officialfigure
35,121,734
Officialdate
1 Jul 2024
13
13
Col 1
13
Country
Ghana
%Africa
2.3%
Population
33,787,914
%growth
1.93%
Officialfigure
30,832,019
Officialdate
27 Jun 2021
14
14
Col 1
14
Country
Mozambique
%Africa
2.3%
Population
33,635,160
%growth
3.00%
Officialfigure
33,244,414
Officialdate
1 Mar 2024
15
15
Col 1
15
Country
Madagascar
%Africa
2.1%
Population
31,195,932
%growth
2.49%
Officialfigure
27,190,927
Officialdate
1 Jun 2020
16
16
Col 1
16
Country
Ivory Coast
%Africa
2.1%
Population
31,165,654
%growth
2.54%
Officialfigure
29,389,150
Officialdate
14 Dec 2021
17
17
Col 1
17
Country
Cameroon
%Africa
1.9%
Population
28,372,687
%growth
2.68%
Officialfigure
24,348,251
Officialdate
Jul 1 2019
18
18
Col 1
18
Country
Niger
%Africa
1.9%
Population
26,159,867
%growth
3.35%
Officialfigure
23,196,000
Officialdate
1 Jul 2020
19
19
Col 1
19
Country
Mali
%Africa
1.8%
Population
23,769,127
%growth
3.02%
Officialfigure
14,528,662
Officialdate
4 May 2024
20
20
Col 1
20
Country
Burkina Faso
%Africa
1.6%
Population
23,025,776
%growth
2.30%
Officialfigure
20,505,155
Officialdate
16 Nov 2019
21
21
Col 1
21
Country
Malawi
%Africa
1.4%
Population
21,104,482
%growth
2.60%
Officialfigure
19,809,511
Officialdate
3 Sep 2023
22
22
Col 1
22
Country
Zambia
%Africa
1.4%
Population
20,723,965
%growth
2.83%
Officialfigure
19,610,769
Officialdate
14 Sep 2022
23
23
Col 1
23
Country
Chad
%Africa
1.3%
Population
19,319,064
%growth
4.68%
Officialfigure
15,775,400
Officialdate
1 Jul 2019
24
24
Col 1
24
Country
Somalia
%Africa
1.2%
Population
18,358,615
%growth
3.13%
Officialfigure
12,316,895
Officialdate
4 May 2024
25
25
Col 1
25
Country
Senegal
%Africa
1.2%
Population
18,077,573
%growth
2.42%
Officialfigure
18,275,743
Officialdate
1 Jul 2023
26
26
Col 1
26
Country
Zimbabwe
%Africa
1.1%
Population
16,340,822
%growth
1.69%
Officialfigure
15,178,979
Officialdate
20 Apr 2022
27
27
Col 1
27
Country
Guinea
%Africa
1.0%
Population
14,405,465
%growth
2.49%
Officialfigure
13,261,638
Officialdate
Jul 1 2022
28
28
Col 1
28
Country
Benin
%Africa
1.0%
Population
14,111,034
%growth
2.55%
Officialfigure
12,606,998
Officialdate
1 Jul 2023
29
29
Col 1
29
Country
Rwanda
%Africa
1.0%
Population
13,954,471
%growth
2.22%
Officialfigure
13,246,394
Officialdate
15 Aug 2022
30
30
Col 1
30
Country
Burundi
%Africa
0.9%
Population
13,689,450
%growth
2.77%
Officialfigure
13,097,400
Officialdate
1 Jul 2023
31
31
Col 1
31
Country
Tunisia
%Africa
0.9%
Population
12,200,431
%growth
0.67%
Officialfigure
11,803,588
Officialdate
1 Jan 2022
32
32
Col 1
32
Country
South Sudan
%Africa
0.8%
Population
11,483,374
%growth
4.19%
Officialfigure
13,249,924
Officialdate
1 Jul 2020
33
33
Col 1
33
Country
Togo
%Africa
0.6%
Population
9,304,337
%growth
2.36%
Officialfigure
8,095,498
Officialdate
8 Nov 2022
34
34
Col 1
34
Country
Sierra Leone
%Africa
0.6%
Population
8,460,512
%growth
2.22%
Officialfigure
7,541,641
Officialdate
9 Dec 2021
35
35
Col 1
35
Country
Libya
%Africa
0.5%
Population
7,305,659
%growth
1.13%
Officialfigure
6,931,061
Officialdate
1 Jan 2020
36
36
Col 1
36
Country
Republic of the Congo
%Africa
0.4%
Population
6,182,885
%growth
2.45%
Officialfigure
3,697,490
Officialdate
4 May 2024
37
37
Col 1
37
Country
Liberia
%Africa
0.4%
Population
5,493,031
%growth
2.23%
Officialfigure
4,844,381
Officialdate
1 Jul 2023
38
38
Col 1
38
Country
Central African Republic
%Africa
0.4%
Population
5,152,421
%growth
1.07%
Officialfigure
6,091,097
Officialdate
1 Mar 2021
39
39
Col 1
39
Country
Mauritania
%Africa
0.3%
Population
5,022,441
%growth
3.01%
Officialfigure
4,352,037
Officialdate
1 Jul 2022
40
40
Col 1
40
Country
Eritrea
%Africa
0.3%
Population
3,470,390
%growth
1.79%
Officialfigure
3,815,900
Officialdate
1 Jul 2012
41
41
Col 1
41
Country
Namibia
%Africa
0.2%
Population
2,963,095
%growth
2.54%
Officialfigure
2,641,857
Officialdate
1 Jul 2023
42
42
Col 1
42
Country
Gambia
%Africa
0.2%
Population
2,697,845
%growth
2.33%
Officialfigure
2,417,471
Officialdate
1 Jul 2022
43
43
Col 1
43
Country
Gabon
%Africa
0.2%
Population
2,484,789
%growth
2.22%
Officialfigure
2,349,099
Officialdate
1 Jul 2023
44
44
Col 1
44
Country
Botswana
%Africa
0.2%
Population
2,480,244
%growth
1.65%
Officialfigure
2,346,179
Officialdate
18 Mar 2022
45
45
Col 1
45
Country
Lesotho
%Africa
0.2%
Population
2,311,472
%growth
1.11%
Officialfigure
2,103,600
Officialdate
1 Jul 2023
46
46
Col 1
46
Country
Guinea-Bissau
%Africa
0.1%
Population
2,153,339
%growth
2.27%
Officialfigure
1,781,308
Officialdate
1 Jul 2023
47
47
Col 1
47
Country
Equatorial Guinea
%Africa
0.1%
Population
1,847,549
%growth
2.44%
Officialfigure
1,558,160
Officialdate
1 Jul 2022
48
48
Col 1
48
Country
Mauritius
%Africa
0.1%
Population
1,273,588
%growth
-0.20%
Officialfigure
1,261,196
Officialdate
31 Dec 2022
49
49
Col 1
49
Country
Eswatini
%Africa
0.1%
Population
1,230,506
%growth
0.95%
Officialfigure
1,223,362
Officialdate
1 Jul 2023
50
50
Col 1
50
Country
Djibouti
%Africa
0.1%
Population
1,152,944
%growth
1.39%
Officialfigure
1,001,454
Officialdate
1 Jul 2021
-
-
Col 1
-
Country
Réunion
%Africa
0.1%
Population
896,175
Officialfigure
896,175
Officialdate
10 Jan 2024
51
51
Col 1
51
Country
Comoros
%Africa
0.1%
Population
850,387
%growth
1.94%
Officialfigure
758,316
Officialdate
15 Dec 2017
-
-
Col 1
-
Country
Western Sahara (disputed)
%Africa
0.04%
Population
579,729
%growth
1.93%
Officialfigure
579,000
Officialdate
1 Jul 2020
52
52
Col 1
52
Country
Cape Verde
%Africa
0.04%
Population
522,331
%growth
0.50%
Officialfigure
483,628
Officialdate
16 Jun 2021
53
53
Col 1
53
Country
São Tomé and Príncipe
%Africa
0.02%
Population
230,871
%growth
2.02%
Officialfigure
210,200
Officialdate
13 May 2020
54
54
Col 1
54
Country
Seychelles
%Africa
0.01%
Population
127,951
%growth
1.94%
Officialfigure
100,447
Officialdate
22 Apr 2022
| Country | %Africa | Population | %growth | Officialfigure | Officialdate | ||
| 1 | Nigeria | 15.4% | 227,882,945 | 2.12% | 216,783,400 | 21 Mar 2022 | |
| 2 | Ethiopia | 8.7% | 128,691,692 | 2.64% | 107,334,000 | 1 Jul 2023 | |
| 3 | Egypt | 7.7% | 114,535,772 | 1.70% | 102,060,688 | 1 Jul 2021 | |
| 4 | DR Congo | 7.1% | 105,789,731 | 3.31% | 95,370,000 | 1 Jul 2019 | |
| 5 | Tanzania | 4.5% | 66,617,606 | 2.95% | 61,741,120 | 23 Aug 2022 | |
| 6 | South Africa | 4.3% | 63,212,384 | 1.34% | 59,604,992 | 1 Jul 2022 | |
| 7 | Kenya | 3.7% | 55,339,003 | 2.00% | 51,526,000 | 1 Jan 2023 | |
| 8 | Sudan | 3.4% | 50,042,791 | 1.34% | 41,984,500 | 1 Jul 2018 | |
| 9 | Uganda | 3.3% | 48,656,601 | 2.84% | 41,583,600 | 1 Jul 2020 | |
| 10 | Algeria | 3.1% | 46,164,219 | 1.51% | 44,700,000 | 1 Jan 2021 | |
| 11 | Morocco | 2.5% | 37,712,505 | 1.03% | 37,438,314 | 9 Sep 2024 | |
| 12 | Angola | 2.5% | 36,749,906 | 3.13% | 35,121,734 | 1 Jul 2024 | |
| 13 | Ghana | 2.3% | 33,787,914 | 1.93% | 30,832,019 | 27 Jun 2021 | |
| 14 | Mozambique | 2.3% | 33,635,160 | 3.00% | 33,244,414 | 1 Mar 2024 | |
| 15 | Madagascar | 2.1% | 31,195,932 | 2.49% | 27,190,927 | 1 Jun 2020 | |
| 16 | Ivory Coast | 2.1% | 31,165,654 | 2.54% | 29,389,150 | 14 Dec 2021 | |
| 17 | Cameroon | 1.9% | 28,372,687 | 2.68% | 24,348,251 | Jul 1 2019 | |
| 18 | Niger | 1.9% | 26,159,867 | 3.35% | 23,196,000 | 1 Jul 2020 | |
| 19 | Mali | 1.8% | 23,769,127 | 3.02% | 14,528,662 | 4 May 2024 | |
| 20 | Burkina Faso | 1.6% | 23,025,776 | 2.30% | 20,505,155 | 16 Nov 2019 | |
| 21 | Malawi | 1.4% | 21,104,482 | 2.60% | 19,809,511 | 3 Sep 2023 | |
| 22 | Zambia | 1.4% | 20,723,965 | 2.83% | 19,610,769 | 14 Sep 2022 | |
| 23 | Chad | 1.3% | 19,319,064 | 4.68% | 15,775,400 | 1 Jul 2019 | |
| 24 | Somalia | 1.2% | 18,358,615 | 3.13% | 12,316,895 | 4 May 2024 | |
| 25 | Senegal | 1.2% | 18,077,573 | 2.42% | 18,275,743 | 1 Jul 2023 | |
| 26 | Zimbabwe | 1.1% | 16,340,822 | 1.69% | 15,178,979 | 20 Apr 2022 | |
| 27 | Guinea | 1.0% | 14,405,465 | 2.49% | 13,261,638 | Jul 1 2022 | |
| 28 | Benin | 1.0% | 14,111,034 | 2.55% | 12,606,998 | 1 Jul 2023 | |
| 29 | Rwanda | 1.0% | 13,954,471 | 2.22% | 13,246,394 | 15 Aug 2022 | |
| 30 | Burundi | 0.9% | 13,689,450 | 2.77% | 13,097,400 | 1 Jul 2023 | |
| 31 | Tunisia | 0.9% | 12,200,431 | 0.67% | 11,803,588 | 1 Jan 2022 | |
| 32 | South Sudan | 0.8% | 11,483,374 | 4.19% | 13,249,924 | 1 Jul 2020 | |
| 33 | Togo | 0.6% | 9,304,337 | 2.36% | 8,095,498 | 8 Nov 2022 | |
| 34 | Sierra Leone | 0.6% | 8,460,512 | 2.22% | 7,541,641 | 9 Dec 2021 | |
| 35 | Libya | 0.5% | 7,305,659 | 1.13% | 6,931,061 | 1 Jan 2020 | |
| 36 | Republic of the Congo | 0.4% | 6,182,885 | 2.45% | 3,697,490 | 4 May 2024 | |
| 37 | Liberia | 0.4% | 5,493,031 | 2.23% | 4,844,381 | 1 Jul 2023 | |
| 38 | Central African Republic | 0.4% | 5,152,421 | 1.07% | 6,091,097 | 1 Mar 2021 | |
| 39 | Mauritania | 0.3% | 5,022,441 | 3.01% | 4,352,037 | 1 Jul 2022 | |
| 40 | Eritrea | 0.3% | 3,470,390 | 1.79% | 3,815,900 | 1 Jul 2012 | |
| 41 | Namibia | 0.2% | 2,963,095 | 2.54% | 2,641,857 | 1 Jul 2023 | |
| 42 | Gambia | 0.2% | 2,697,845 | 2.33% | 2,417,471 | 1 Jul 2022 | |
| 43 | Gabon | 0.2% | 2,484,789 | 2.22% | 2,349,099 | 1 Jul 2023 | |
| 44 | Botswana | 0.2% | 2,480,244 | 1.65% | 2,346,179 | 18 Mar 2022 | |
| 45 | Lesotho | 0.2% | 2,311,472 | 1.11% | 2,103,600 | 1 Jul 2023 | |
| 46 | Guinea-Bissau | 0.1% | 2,153,339 | 2.27% | 1,781,308 | 1 Jul 2023 | |
| 47 | Equatorial Guinea | 0.1% | 1,847,549 | 2.44% | 1,558,160 | 1 Jul 2022 | |
| 48 | Mauritius | 0.1% | 1,273,588 | -0.20% | 1,261,196 | 31 Dec 2022 | |
| 49 | Eswatini | 0.1% | 1,230,506 | 0.95% | 1,223,362 | 1 Jul 2023 |
References
- Figures include the Sinai Peninsula, which is part of Western Asia.
- Includes Somaliland which has a population of about 6.2 million.
- UNdatahttps://population.un.org/wpp/
- population.un.orghttps://web.archive.org/web/20231205201116/https://population.un.org/wpp/Download/Standard/MostUsed/
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- "Member States"https://web.archive.org/web/20220901043534/https://au.int/en/member_states/countryprofiles2
- City Populationhttps://www.citypopulation.de/en/nigeria/admin/
- Stats Ethiopiahttps://web.archive.org/web/20230824135816/http://www.statsethiopia.gov.et/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Population-of-Zones-and-Weredas-Projected-as-of-July-2023.pdf
- City Populationhttps://www.citypopulation.de/en/egypt/admin/
- ins.cdhttps://web.archive.org/web/20230212172734/https://ins.cd/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/ANNUAIRE-STATISTIQUE-2020.pdf
- nbs.go.tzhttps://www.nbs.go.tz/nbs/takwimu/Census2022/Administrative_units_Population_Distribution_Report_Tanzania_volume1a.pdf
- statssa.gov.zahttps://www.statssa.gov.za/publications/P0302/P03022022.pdf
- knbs.or.kehttps://www.knbs.or.ke/download/2019-kphc-analytical-report-on-population-projections-vol-xvi/
- City Populationhttp://www.citypopulation.de/en/sudan/
- City Populationhttps://www.citypopulation.de/en/uganda/admin/
- Office National des Statistiqueshttp://www.ons.dz/IMG/pdf/demographie2019_bis.pdf
- City Populationhttps://web.archive.org/web/20230520093947/https://www.hcp.ma/Horloge-de-la-population_a3531.html
- ine.gov.aohttps://www.ine.gov.ao/
- City Populationhttp://www.citypopulation.de/en/ghana/admin/
- www.worldometers.infohttps://www.ine.gov.mz/
- City Populationhttp://www.citypopulation.de/en/madagascar/admin/
- ins.cihttp://www.ins.ci/RGPH2021/RESULTATS%20DEFINITIFSRP21.pdf
- bucrep.cmhttps://web.archive.org/web/20210224204444/http://www.bucrep.cm/index.php/en/
- City Populationhttp://www.citypopulation.de/en/niger/cities/
- www.worldometers.infohttps://www.worldometers.info/world-population/mali-population/
- City Populationhttp://www.citypopulation.de/en/burkinafaso/cities/
- nsomalawi.mwhttps://web.archive.org/web/20201030033804/http://www.nsomalawi.mw/images/stories/data_on_line/demography/census_2018/Thematic_Reports/Population%20Projections%202018-2050.pdf
- zamstats.gov.zmhttps://www.zamstats.gov.zm/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/2022-Census-of-Population-and-Housing-Preliminary.pdf
- City Populationhttp://www.citypopulation.de/en/chad/
- www.worldometers.infohttps://www.worldometers.info/world-population/somalia-population/#:~:text=The%20current%20population%20of%20Somalia,of%20the%20total%20world%20population.
- "Somaliland's population reaches 6.2 million"https://www.horndiplomat.com/2024/04/19/somalilands-population-reaches-6-2-million/
- www.hiiraan.comhttp://www.hiiraan.com/news4/2024/apr/195933/somaliland_population_reaches_6_2_million_government_reports.aspx
- Open Data for Africahttps://senegal.opendataforafrica.org/idajti/projections-de-la-population-par-r%C3%A9gion-et-sexe
- zimstat.co.zwhttp://www.zimstat.co.zw/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Census2022_Preliminary_Report.pdf
- stat-guinee.orghttps://www.stat-guinee.org/
- instad.bjhttps://instad.bj/images/docs/Actualit%C3%A9s/Projection%20r%C3%A9vis%C3%A9e.pdf
- statistics.gov.rwhttps://web.archive.org/web/20230316110409/https://statistics.gov.rw/publication/main_indicators_2022
- isteebu.bihttps://web.archive.org/web/20230525150957/https://www.isteebu.bi/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/PROJECTIONS-COMMUNALES-020620-rapport-VF.pdf
- City Populationhttp://www.citypopulation.de/en/tunisia/cities/
- ssnbss.orghttps://web.archive.org/web/20190412033822/http://www.ssnbss.org/sites/default/files/2016-08/population_projections_for_south_sudan_2015_2020.pdf
- inseed.tghttps://inseed.tg/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Communique_de_presse_Resultats_RGPH5_20230404.pdf
- statistics.slhttps://www.statistics.sl/images/StatisticsSL/Documents/Census/MTPHC_Provisional_Results/2021_MTPHC_Provisional_Results.pdf
- City Populationhttps://www.citypopulation.de/en/libya/
- www.worldometers.infohttps://www.worldometers.info/world-population/congo-population/#:~:text=The%20current%20population%20of%20the,latest%20United%20Nations%20data%201.
- lisgis.nethttps://web.archive.org/web/20160818131928/http://www.lisgis.net/pg_img/Population%20Projection%20final%20110512.pdf
- City Populationhttps://www.citypopulation.de/en/centralafrica/cities/
- ansade.mrhttps://ansade.mr/fr/
- City Populationhttps://www.citypopulation.de/en/eritrea/
- cms.my.nahttp://cms.my.na/assets/documents/p19dn4fhgp14t5ns24g4p6r1c401.pdf
- gbosdata.orghttps://www.gbosdata.org/data/40-population-and-household-characteristics/1653-population-total
- statgabon.gahttps://web.archive.org/web/20210429022734/https://www.statgabon.ga/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Rapport-Projection_Final.pdf
- statsbots.org.bwhttps://www.statsbots.org.bw/sites/default/files/2022%20Population%20and%20Housing%20Census%20Preliminary%20Results.pdf
- City Populationhttps://www.citypopulation.de/en/lesotho/
- stat-guinebissauhttps://www.stat-guinebissau.com/
- inege.gqhttps://web.archive.org/web/20100806160229/http://www.guineaecuatorialpress.com/estadistica.php
- statsmauritius.govmu.orghttps://statsmauritius.govmu.org/Pages/Statistics/By_Subject/Population/SB_Population.aspx
- ccm.org.szhttps://web.archive.org/web/20150723224521/http://ccm.org.sz/documents/reports/hiv/Population-Projections-Report-2007-2030.pdf
- instad.djhttp://www.instad.dj/assets/doc/Annuaire_Statistique_2022.pdf
- City Populationhttps://www.citypopulation.de/en/comoros/cities/
- City Populationhttp://www.citypopulation.de/en/westernsahara/
- City Populationhttp://www.citypopulation.de/en/capeverde/
- City Populationhttp://www.citypopulation.de/en/saotome/cities/
- City Populationhttps://www.citypopulation.de/en/seychelles/cities/