| Region | Sub-Saharan Africa | |
| Population (000, 2021) | 457 053a | |
| Pop. density (per km2, 2021) | 68.5a | |
| Surface area (km2) | 6 667 493b | |
| Sex ratio (m per 100 f) | 98.6a |
| 2010 | 2015 | 2021 | |
| GDP: Gross domestic product (million current US$) | 217 614 | 313 147 | 407 967b |
| GDP growth rate (annual %, const. 2015 prices) | 8.4 | 5.9 | 5b |
| GDP per capita (current US$) | 643.3 | 805.9 | 942.7b |
| Employment in agriculturec (% of employed) | 69.7 | 66.2 | 63.7d |
| Employment in industryc (% of employed) | 7.4 | 8.1 | 8.7d |
| Employment in servicesc (% employed) | 22.9 | 25.6 | 27.6d |
| Unemploymentc (% of labour force) | 4 | 3.3 | 3.2d |
| Labour force participation ratec (female/male pop. %) | 73.3 / 83.6 | 72.7 / 82.9 | 72.9 / 82.0d |
| Agricultural production index (2014-2016=100) | 85 | 101 | 111b |
| International trade: exports (million current US$) | 31 652 | 40 742 | 42 928d |
| International trade: imports (million current US$) | 62 688 | 94 477 | 84 312d |
| International trade: balance (million current US$) | - 31 036 | - 53 735 | - 41 385d |
| 2010 | 2015 | 2021 | |
| Population growth ratee (average annual %) | 2.8 | 2.8 | 2.7d |
| Urban population (% of total population) | 24.4 | 26.6 | 28.5b |
| Urban population growth ratee (average annual %) | 4.4 | 4.6 | ... |
| Fertility rate, totale (live births per woman) | 5.4 | 4.9 | 4.4d |
| Life expectancy at birthe (females/males, years) | 57.7 / 54.4 | 62.9 / 59.0 | 66.2 / 62.1d |
| Population age distribution (0-14/60+ years old, %) | 44.9 / 4.3 | 43.6 / 4.4 | 41.4 / 4.6a |
| International migrant stock (000/% of total pop.) | 4 743.7 / 1.4 | 6 696.9 / 1.7 | 7 682.8 / 1.7d |
| Infant mortality ratee (per 1 000 live births) | 62.6 | 50.4 | 42d |
| Seats held by women in national parliaments (%) | 21.6 | 27.2 | 31.2f |
| 2010 | 2015 | 2021 | |
| Individuals using the Internet (per 100 inhabitants) | 4.5 | 14.5 | 17.4b |
| Forested area (% of land area) | 32.6 | 29.8 | 29.3g |
| Pop. using safely managed drinking water (urban/rural, %) | 46.6 / 6.2 | 53.0 / 8.6 | 60.4 / 11.4d |
| Pop. using safely managed sanitation (urban/rural %) | 24.4 / 14.9 | 25.6 / 16.3 | 27.2 / 17.9d |