Africa: total population forecast 2020-2050

According to the forecast, Africa's total population would reach nearly 2.5 billion by 2050. In 2020, the continent had around 1.34 billion inhabitants, with Nigeria, Ethiopia, and Egypt as the most populous countries. In the coming years, Africa would experience significant population growth and would nearly reach the Asian population by 2100.

Rapid population growth

The population of Africa has been increasing annually in recent years, growing from around 811 million to just over 1.37 billion between 2000 and 2021, respectively. In the same period, the annual growth rate of the population has been constantly set at roughly 2.5 percent, with a peak of 2.62 percent in 2012 and 2013. The reasons behind this rapid growth are various. One factor is the high fertility rate registered in African countries. In 2019, a woman in Niger had an average of over six children in her reproductive years, the highest rate on the continent. High fertility resulted in a large young population and partly compensated for the high mortality rate in Africa, leading to fast-paced population growth.

High poverty levels

Africa’s population is concerned with widespread poverty. In 2021, over 489 million people on the continent are extremely poor and live with less than 1.90 U.S. dollars per day. Globally, Africa is the continent hosting the highest poverty rate. In 2021, the countries of Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of the Congo account for 22 percent of the world population living in extreme poverty. Nevertheless, poverty in Africa is forecast to decrease in the coming years.