Population in Africa 2023, by country

Nigeria has the largest population in Africa. As of 2023, the country counted over 223.8 million individuals, whereas Ethiopia, which ranked second, has 115 million inhabitants. Egypt registered the largest population in North Africa, reaching 102 million people. In terms of inhabitants per square kilometer, Nigeria only ranks eighth, while Mauritius has the highest population density on the whole African continent.

The fastest growing world region

Africa is the second most populous continent in the world, after Asia. Nevertheless, Africa records the highest growth rate worldwide, with figures rising by over two percent every year. In some countries, such as in Niger, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Chad, the population increase peaks at over three percent. With so many births, Africa is also the youngest continent in the world. However, this is also the result of a low life expectancy.

African cities on the rise

The last decades have seen high urbanization rates in Asia, mainly in China and India. However, African cities are currently growing at larger rates. Indeed, most of the fastest-growing cities in the world are located in Sub-Saharan Africa. Gwagwalada, in Nigeria, and Kabinda, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, ranked first worldwide. By 2035, instead, Africa’s fastest-growing cities are forecast to be Bujumbura, in Burundi, and Zinder, Nigeria.