| Region | Sub-Saharan Africa | |
| Population (000, 2021) | 412 460a | |
| Pop. density (per km2, 2021) | 68a | |
| Surface area (km2) | 6 064 060b | |
| Sex ratio (m per 100 f) | 101.4a,c |
| 2010 | 2015 | 2021 | |
| GDP: Gross domestic product (million current US$) | 508 140 | 684 508 | 723 523b |
| GDP growth rate (annual %, const. 2015 prices) | 7.7 | 3.7 | 3.4b |
| GDP per capita (current US$) | 1 655.0 | 1 946.2 | 1 848.4b |
| Employment in agricultured (% of employed) | 48.2 | 42.6 | 39.9e |
| Employment in industryd (% of employed) | 11.2 | 13.3 | 13.9e |
| Employment in servicesd (% employed) | 40.6 | 44.2 | 46.2e |
| Unemploymentd (% of labour force) | 4.4 | 4.6 | 6e |
| Labour force participation rated (female/male pop. %) | 57.1 / 69.5 | 53.1 / 65.2 | 52.5 / 64.3e |
| Agricultural production index (2014-2016=100) | 85 | 100 | 112b |
| International trade: exports (million current US$) | 113 448 | 89 100 | 146 155e |
| International trade: imports (million current US$) | 83 254 | 87 237 | 166 451e |
| International trade: balance (million current US$) | 30 194 | 1 863 | - 20 295e |
| 2010 | 2015 | 2021 | |
| Population growth ratec,f (average annual %) | 2.7 | 2.7 | 2.7e |
| Urban population (% of total population) | 41.1 | 44.5 | 47b |
| Urban population growth ratef (average annual %) | 4.4 | 4.3 | ... |
| Fertility rate, totalc,f (live births per woman) | 5.7 | 5.5 | 5.2e |
| Life expectancy at birthc,f (females/males, years) | 53.5 / 51.6 | 56.0 / 54.1 | 58.4 / 56.3e |
| Population age distributionc (0-14/60+ years old, %) | 44.2 / 4.5 | 44.0 / 4.5 | 42.9 / 4.6a |
| International migrant stock (000/% of total pop.) | 6 321.6 / 2.1 | 7 067.1 / 2.0 | 7 552.1 / 1.9e |
| Infant mortality ratec,f (per 1 000 live births) | 81.2 | 68.5 | 57.3e |
| Seats held by women in national parliaments (%) | 11.6 | 14.5 | 15.9g |
| 2010 | 2015 | 2021 | |
| Individuals using the Internet (per 100 inhabitants) | 7.7 | 27.2 | 14.5b |
| Forested area (% of land area) | 14.8 | 14.3 | 14.1h |
| Pop. using safely managed drinking water (urban/rural, %) | 33.6 / 12.1 | 33.9 / 14.3 | 34.3 / 16.5e |
| Pop. using safely managed sanitation (urban/rural %) | 20.2 / 16.2 | 22.9 / 17.8 | 25.6 / 19.5e |