| Region | Africa | |
| Population (000, 2021) | 250 635a | |
| Pop. density (per km2, 2021) | 32.3a | |
| Surface area (km2) | 7 769 438b | |
| Sex ratio (m per 100 f) | 101a |
| 2010 | 2015 | 2021 | |
| GDP: Gross domestic product (million current US$) | 648 783 | 729 675 | 714 511b |
| GDP growth rate (annual %, const. 2015 prices) | 4.8 | 1.8 | 3.7b |
| GDP per capita (current US$) | 3 204.5 | 3 267.2 | 2 962.3b |
| Employment in agriculturec (% of employed) | 29.2 | 26.7 | 24.8d |
| Employment in industryc (% of employed) | 24.5 | 24.6 | 25.6d |
| Employment in servicesc (% employed) | 46.3 | 48.7 | 49.6d |
| Unemploymentc (% of labour force) | 10.6 | 13.1 | 11.9d |
| Labour force participation ratec (female/male pop. %) | 22.8 / 73.1 | 22.6 / 71.0 | 22.2 / 69.3d |
| Agricultural production index (2014-2016=100) | 89 | 102 | 108b |
| International trade: exports (million current US$) | 165 544 | 108 845 | 169 375d |
| International trade: imports (million current US$) | 181 147 | 205 560 | 202 905d |
| International trade: balance (million current US$) | - 15 603 | - 96 714 | - 33 530d |
| 2010 | 2015 | 2021 | |
| Population growth ratee (average annual %) | 1.7 | 2 | 1.9d |
| Urban population (% of total population) | 50.5 | 51.4 | 52.2b |
| Urban population growth ratee (average annual %) | 2.1 | 2.3 | ... |
| Fertility rate, totale (live births per woman) | 3.1 | 3.3 | 3.3d |
| Life expectancy at birthe (females/males, years) | 71.7 / 67.9 | 73.0 / 69.4 | 74.2 / 70.4d |
| Population age distribution (0-14/60+ years old, %) | 32.1 / 7.4 | 32.4 / 8.0 | 32.6 / 9.0a |
| International migrant stock (000/% of total pop.) | 1 952.0 / 1.0 | 2 138.9 / 1.0 | 3 167.9 / 1.3d |
| Infant mortality ratee (per 1 000 live births) | 31.7 | 26.6 | 23d |
| Education: Primary gross enrol. ratio (f/m per 100 pop.) | 95.5 / 100.8 | 98.0 / 101.5c | 100.2 / 102.4b |
| Education: Secondary gross enrol. ratio (f/m per 100 pop.) | 70.3 / 72.0 | 78.2 / 78.6c | 82.2 / 81.8c,b |
| Education: Upper secondary gross enrol. ratio (f/m per 100 pop.) | 52.0 / 48.6 | 62.8 / 59.2c | 65.8 / 60.6c,b |
| Seats held by women in national parliaments (%) | 13.2 | 24.6 | 24.3f |
| 2010 | 2015 | 2021 | |
| Individuals using the Internet (per 100 inhabitants) | 24.6 | 38.8 | 53.4b |
| Research & Development expenditure (% of GDP) | 0.5 | 0.6 | 0.6g |
| Forested area (% of land area) | 4.4 | 3.6 | 3.6g |
| Important sites for terrestrial biodiversity protected (%) | 30 | 33.9 | 34.9d |
| Pop. using safely managed drinking water (urban/rural, %) | 84.3 / ... | 84.1 / ... | 83.1 / ...d |
| Pop. using safely managed sanitation (urban/rural %) | 35.6 / ... | 38.2 / ... | 40.2 / ...d |