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Surface area — all countries

Surface area — Sub-Saharan Africa

Surface area in Sub-Saharan Africa in 2023 — 24,339,991 km². Since 1961, the indicator has risen by 0.3%.

2023 24.34M km² +0% vs 2022
World rank —
Period maximum 24.34M km²2023
Period minimum 24.27M km²1961

Trend over time

1961–2023 · km²

Surface area — Sub-Saharan Africa, 1961–202324.26M24.28M24.3M24.32M24.34M19611968197519821989199620032010201720231961: 24,273,011 km²1963: 24,273,011 km²1965: 24,273,011 km²1967: 24,273,011 km²1969: 24,273,011 km²1971: 24,273,011 km²1973: 24,273,011 km²1975: 24,273,011 km²1977: 24,273,011 km²1979: 24,273,011 km²1981: 24,273,011 km²1983: 24,273,011 km²1985: 24,273,011 km²1987: 24,273,011 km²1989: 24,273,011 km²1991: 24,273,011 km²1993: 24,273,011 km²1995: 24,273,011 km²1997: 24,273,011 km²1999: 24,273,011 km²2001: 24,273,011 km²2003: 24,273,011 km²2005: 24,309,044 km²2007: 24,308,982 km²2009: 24,309,011 km²2011: 24,309,251 km²2013: 24,328,286 km²2015: 24,328,326 km²2017: 24,328,307 km²2019: 24,328,290 km²2021: 24,339,984 km²2023: 24,339,991 km²
Change over the period: +66,980 (+0.28%) Average annual rate: 0 %

Comparison, 2023

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Sub-Saharan Africa

Sub-Saharan Africa 24.34M km²
World 141M km²
Surface area — Sub-Saharan Africa, by year Sub-Saharan Africa All countries CSV XLSX
Year km² Change Change, %
2023 24.34M +4 +0%
2022 24.34M +3 +0%
2021 24.34M +135 +0%
2020 24.34M +11,558 +0.05%
2019 24.33M −23 −0%
2018 24.33M +6 +0%
2017 24.33M −6 −0%
2016 24.33M −13 −0%
2015 24.33M +54 +0%
2014 24.33M −13 −0%
2013 24.33M −32 −0%
2012 24.33M +19,067 +0.08%
2011 24.31M +246 +0%
2010 24.31M −5 −0%
2009 24.31M +12 +0%
2008 24.31M +17 +0%
2007 24.31M −32 −0%
2006 24.31M −30 −0%
2005 24.31M −1 −0%
2004 24.31M +36,034 +0.15%
2003 24.27M +0 +0%
2002 24.27M +0 +0%
2001 24.27M +0 +0%
2000 24.27M +0 +0%
1999 24.27M +0 +0%
1998 24.27M +0 +0%
1997 24.27M +0 +0%
1996 24.27M +0 +0%
1995 24.27M +0 +0%
1994 24.27M +0 +0%
1993 24.27M +0 +0%
1992 24.27M +0 +0%
1991 24.27M +0 +0%
1990 24.27M +0 +0%
1989 24.27M +0 +0%
1988 24.27M +0 +0%
1987 24.27M +0 +0%
1986 24.27M +0 +0%
1985 24.27M +0 +0%
1984 24.27M +0 +0%
1983 24.27M +0 +0%
1982 24.27M +0 +0%
1981 24.27M +0 +0%
1980 24.27M +0 +0%
1979 24.27M +0 +0%
1978 24.27M +0 +0%
1977 24.27M +0 +0%
1976 24.27M +0 +0%
1975 24.27M +0 +0%
1974 24.27M +0 +0%
1973 24.27M +0 +0%
1972 24.27M +0 +0%
1971 24.27M +0 +0%
1970 24.27M +0 +0%
1969 24.27M +0 +0%
1968 24.27M +0 +0%
1967 24.27M +0 +0%
1966 24.27M +0 +0%
1965 24.27M +0 +0%
1964 24.27M +0 +0%
1963 24.27M +0 +0%
1962 24.27M +0 +0%
1961 24.27M — —

About the indicator

Total surface area: land together with inland water bodies and, where applicable, coastal waters. This is the figure usually quoted as the area of a country in reference books and encyclopedias. It is the basis for the share of protected natural areas, because protected areas include marine waters, which land area leaves out.

Important: This is the “encyclopedic” area of a country. Land shares — forest, arable and agricultural land — are calculated against land area, not against this figure.

Source: FAOSTAT (FAO), license CC BY 4.0.

Other indicators for Sub-Saharan Africa

Environment Land area

The area of a country excluding inland water bodies — the denominator for every land share.

Sub-Saharan Africa by year Environment Protected areas

The share of land and sea under protection — nature reserves, national parks, sanctuaries.

Sub-Saharan Africa by year Demography Population density

How many people there are per square kilometer of a country's territory.

Sub-Saharan Africa by year Environment Forest cover

What share of a country's territory is covered by forest.

Sub-Saharan Africa by year Environment Forest area

The absolute area of forest in square kilometers.

Sub-Saharan Africa by year Environment Freshwater withdrawal as a share of resources

How much water is withdrawn relative to the internal resources available.

Sub-Saharan Africa by year
All indicators for Sub-Saharan Africa