World Population Prospects, the 2010 Revision

Figure 14: Population of Europe, Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa (millions)

Source: United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2011): World Population Prospects: The 2010 Revision. New York
Note: In our definition, Europe has 48 countries, including the Russian Federation.

(Updated: 19 October 2011)

Key result: The population in Sub-Saharan Africa has outgrown that of Europe and is projected to be more than five times larger than the population of Europe in 2100.

Figure 14 displays the total population of Europe, Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa.

In 1950, Africa's population was about 40% of the population of Europe. In 2010 Africa's population had already outgrown the population of Europe by almost 40%. By 2050, Africa will have three times as many people as Europe; and by 2100 the population in Africa is projected to be much more than 5 times the population of Europe

It should be noted that this projected population increase in Africa is based on the assumption that fertility will fall significantly in Africa. In fact, we project average total fertility to decline from 4.64 children in the 2005-2010 period to 2.89 children in the 2045-2050 period and further to 2.13 in the 2095-2100 period. Without this very significant fertility decline, Africa's population would increase even further.