| Region | Africa | |
| Population (000, 2021) | 1 122 851a | |
| Pop. density (per km2, 2021) | 51.3a | |
| Surface area (km2) | 21 879 043b,c | |
| Sex ratio (m per 100 f) | 99.7a |
| 2010 | 2015 | 2021 | |
| GDP: Gross domestic product (million current US$) | 1 321 032 | 1 585 227 | 1 746 088c |
| GDP growth rate (annual %, const. 2015 prices) | 6.3 | 3.3 | 2.7c |
| GDP per capita (current US$) | 1 581.5 | 1 655.6 | 1 639.3c |
| Employment in agricultured (% of employed) | 58.1 | 54.5 | 52.6e |
| Employment in industryd (% of employed) | 9.9 | 10.9 | 11.2e |
| Employment in servicesd (% employed) | 32.1 | 34.5 | 36.2e |
| Unemploymentd (% of labour force) | 5.7 | 5.4 | 5.9e |
| Labour force participation rated (female/male pop. %) | 64.1 / 75.0 | 62.7 / 73.3 | 62.7 / 72.6e |
| International trade: exports (million current US$) | 331 050 | 294 142 | 397 632e |
| International trade: imports (million current US$) | 287 288 | 341 970 | 398 494e |
| International trade: balance (million current US$) | 43 762 | - 47 827 | -862e |
| 2010 | 2015 | 2021 | |
| Population growth ratef (average annual %) | 2.7 | 2.7 | 2.6e |
| Urban population (% of total population) | 36.1 | 38.8 | 40.9c |
| Urban population growth ratef (average annual %) | 4.1 | 4.1 | ... |
| Fertility rate, totalf (live births per woman) | 5.4 | 5.1 | 4.7e |
| Life expectancy at birthf (females/males, years) | 55.5 / 52.6 | 59.5 / 56.2 | 62.3 / 58.8e |
| Population age distribution (0-14/60+ years old, %) | 43.8 / 4.6 | 43.2 / 4.6 | 41.8 / 4.8a |
| International migrant stock (000/% of total pop.) | 15 854.6 / 1.9 | 20 721.9 / 2.2 | 22 221.5 / 2.0e |
| Infant mortality ratef (per 1 000 live births) | 73.5 | 61 | 51.5e |
| Education: Primary gross enrol. ratio (f/m per 100 pop.) | 94.6 / 102.2 | 96.8 / 101.1 | 97.4 / 102.0d,c |
| Education: Secondary gross enrol. ratio (f/m per 100 pop.) | 35.7 / 43.5 | 40.5 / 46.9 | 40.4 / 45.9d,g |
| Education: Upper secondary gross enrol. ratio (f/m per 100 pop.) | 27.2 / 34.8 | 31.2 / 38.3 | 30.3 / 36.2d,g |
| Seats held by women in national parliaments (%) | 18.4 | 22.6 | 24.9h |
| 2010 | 2015 | 2021 | |
| Individuals using the Internet (per 100 inhabitants) | 6.5 | 20.5 | 17.8c |
| Research & Development expenditure (% of GDP) | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.4g |
| Forested area (% of land area) | 29.9 | 28.5 | 28g |
| Important sites for terrestrial biodiversity protected (%) | 39.4 | 40.4 | 42.7e |
| Pop. using safely managed drinking water (urban/rural, %) | 46.8 / 9.1 | 51.3 / 11.1 | 53.5 / 13.3e |
| Pop. using safely managed sanitation (urban/rural %) | 19.8 / 16.7 | 21.6 / 18.0 | 23.5 / 19.4e |