| Region | Africa | |
| Population (000, 2020) | 1 094 366 | |
| Pop. density (per km2, 2020) | 50 | |
| Surface area (km2) | 22 431 000a,b | |
| Sex ratio (m per 100 f) | 99.6 |
| 2010 | 2015 | 2020 | |
| GDP: Gross domestic product (million current US$) | 1 319 729 | 1 576 604 | 1 699 027c |
| GDP growth rate (annual %, const. 2015 prices) | 6.1 | 3 | 3c |
| GDP per capita (current US$) | 1 579.9 | 1 646.6 | 1 637.6c |
| Employment in agricultured (% of employed) | 58.1 | 54.5 | 52.6 |
| Employment in industryd (% of employed) | 9.9 | 10.9 | 11.2 |
| Employment in servicesd (% employed) | 32.1 | 34.5 | 36.2 |
| Unemploymentd (% of labour force) | 5.7 | 5.4 | 5.9 |
| Labour force participation rated (female/male pop. %) | 64.1 / 75.0 | 62.7 / 73.3 | 62.7 / 72.6 |
| International trade: exports (million current US$) | 331 050 | 294 897 | 342 425e |
| International trade: imports (million current US$) | 287 288 | 342 656 | 366 222e |
| International trade: balance (million current US$) | 43 762 | - 47 759 | - 23 798e |
| 2010 | 2015 | 2020 | |
| Population growth ratef (average annual %) | 2.7 | 2.7 | 2.6 |
| Urban population (% of total population) | 36.1 | 38.8 | 40.9e |
| Urban population growth ratef (average annual %) | 4.1 | 4.1 | ... |
| Fertility rate, totalf (live births per woman) | 5.4 | 5.1 | 4.7 |
| Life expectancy at birthf (females/males, years) | 55.5 / 52.6 | 59.5 / 56.2 | 62.3 / 58.8 |
| Population age distribution (0-14/60+ years old, %) | 43.8 / 4.6 | 43.2 / 4.6 | 42.1 / 4.8 |
| International migrant stock (000/% of total pop.) | 15 855.9 / 1.9 | 21 337.3 / 2.2 | 23 573.5 / 2.2e |
| Infant mortality ratef (per 1 000 live births) | 73.5 | 61 | 51.5 |
| Education: Primary gross enrol. ratio (f/m per 100 pop.) | 94.6 / 102.2 | 96.8 / 101.0 | 96.5 / 100.7d,c |
| Education: Secondary gross enrol. ratio (f/m per 100 pop.) | 35.7 / 43.5 | 40.5 / 46.9 | 40.5 / 46.0d,c |
| Education: Tertiary gross enrol. ratio (f/m per 100 pop.) | 6.1 / 9.0 | 7.4 / 10.3d | 7.7 / 10.5d,c |
| Seats held by women in national parliaments (%) | 18.4 | 22.6 | 24.3g |
| 2010 | 2015 | 2020 | |
| Individuals using the Internet (per 100 inhabitants) | 6.5 | 20.5 | 26c |
| Research & Development expenditure (% of GDP) | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.4b |
| Forested area (% of land area) | 28.3 | 28 | 28b |
| Important sites for terrestrial biodiversity protected (%) | 39.2 | 40.5 | 41e |
| Pop. using safely managed drinking water (urban/rural, %) | 46.0 / 8.9 | 48.7 / 10.7 | 50.0 / 11.6b |
| Pop. using safely managed sanitation (urban/rural %) | 19.1 / 16.1 | 19.6 / 17.0 | 19.8 / 17.5b |
| Net Official Development Assist. receivedh,i (% of GNI) | 3.38 | 2.66 | 2.9c |
| Footnotes |
| a | Calculated by the UN Statistics Division. | |
| b | 2017 | |
| c | 2018 | |
| d | Estimate. | |
| e | 2019 | |
| f | Data refers to a 5-year period preceding the reference year. | |
| g | Data are as at 1 January of reporting year. | |
| h | Including regional aid disbursements in addition to the disbursements made to individual countries and areas. | |
| i | Including Sudan. |