HistoryData

Population Pyramid of Africa2024

Total population
1.52B
Median age
20.2
Peak year
2100
Peak population
3.81B

Age & sex distribution over time

195019802000202420502100
1950 · 227.8M · median age 19.2
0–45–910–1415–1920–2425–2930–3435–3940–4445–4950–5455–5960–6465–6970–7475–7980–8485–8990–9495–99100+MaleFemale1950
1980 · 483.1M · median age 17.4
0–45–910–1415–1920–2425–2930–3435–3940–4445–4950–5455–5960–6465–6970–7475–7980–8485–8990–9495–99100+MaleFemale1980
2000 · 830.6M · median age 18.2
0–45–910–1415–1920–2425–2930–3435–3940–4445–4950–5455–5960–6465–6970–7475–7980–8485–8990–9495–99100+MaleFemale2000
2024 · 1.52B · median age 20.2
0–45–910–1415–1920–2425–2930–3435–3940–4445–4950–5455–5960–6465–6970–7475–7980–8485–8990–9495–99100+MaleFemale2024
2050 · 2.47B · median age 25.4
0–45–910–1415–1920–2425–2930–3435–3940–4445–4950–5455–5960–6465–6970–7475–7980–8485–8990–9495–99100+MaleFemale2050
2100 · 3.81B · median age 36.1
0–45–910–1415–1920–2425–2930–3435–3940–4445–4950–5455–5960–6465–6970–7475–7980–8485–8990–9495–99100+MaleFemale2100

Source: UN World Population Prospects 2024 Revision (CC BY 3.0 IGO). Values in thousands. Years after 2024 are medium-variant projections.

Key insights

Demographic profile

Africa presently shows an expansive pyramid with a young median age, characteristic of the early demographic transition — fertility remains high while mortality has fallen. The median age in 2024 is 20.2 years.

Age composition

Children under 15 account for 39.1% of the population; people 65 and older account for 3.6%.

Peak population

UN medium-variant projections place Africa's peak population in 2100.

Long arc

In 1950 the population was 227.8 million with median age 19.2. Projected 2100 values are 3813.9 million and median age 36.1.