The most populous country per region varies from Nigeria's 238M to South Africa's 65M

  • Nigeria leads Africa with 238 million people in July 2025.
  • Namibia, though the second largest in the South, has only 3 million people.
  • In Eastern Africa, Ethiopia (135M) and Tanzania (71M) dominate.
  • Egypt (118M) and Sudan (52M) are Northern Africa’s population leaders.
  • South Africa (65M) is Southern Africa’s most populous country, far ahead of Namibia.
  • In West Africa, Nigeria (238M) and Ghana (35M) are the most populous, showing a wide gap within the region.

Africa’s population distribution shows striking contrasts, with some nations carrying massive demographic weight while others remain comparatively small. At the forefront is Nigeria, which in July 2025 stood at 238 million people, making it not just West Africa’s most populous country but also a central demographic force on the continent. On the other end of the spectrum, Namibia, the second largest population in Southern Africa, stands at just 3 million, highlighting the vast population disparity between African nations.

Beyond Nigeria, Ethiopia (135M) and Egypt (118M) also stand out as major population centres, shaping Eastern and Northern Africa, respectively. Countries like Tanzania (71M) and DR Congo (113M) are also experiencing rapid growth. In Southern Africa, South Africa leads with 65M, far ahead of its neighbour, Namibia.

Source:

Worldometer

Period:

July 2025
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