What is the difference in non-agricultural population between Africa and South Africa?

495.39 million FAO, number, with Africa ahead.

How many years of comparable data are there for Africa and South Africa?

33 years are reported by both, from 1980 to 2012.

Where does this data come from?

Food and Agriculture Organization, electronic files and web site, published as Non-agricultural population (FAO, number). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

Africa vs South Africa: Non-agricultural population

Africa

541.51 million FAO, number

in 2012

South Africa

46.12 million FAO, number

in 2012

Africa rank

1st

South Africa rank

3rd

Non-agricultural population over time

Africa
South Africa

How they compare

Africa currently reports 541.51 million FAO, number against 46.12 million FAO, number in South Africa, a difference of 495.39 million FAO, number.

That makes Africa's figure about 11.7 times South Africa's.

Across all 33 years both countries report, Africa has been ahead every year.

Africa ranks 1st and South Africa ranks 3rd of 6 groups.

Africa has averaged higher in every one of the 4 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade	Africa	South Africa	Difference	Ahead
1980s	201.12 million FAO, number	25.35 million FAO, number	175.77 million FAO, number	Africa
1990s	300.41 million FAO, number	33.96 million FAO, number	266.45 million FAO, number	Africa
2000s	424.78 million FAO, number	41.78 million FAO, number	383.01 million FAO, number	Africa
2010s	524.47 million FAO, number	45.68 million FAO, number	478.79 million FAO, number	Africa

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher non-agricultural population, Africa or South Africa?: Africa, at 541.51 million FAO, number against 46.12 million FAO, number in South Africa as of 2012.
What is the difference in non-agricultural population between Africa and South Africa?: 495.39 million FAO, number, with Africa ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Africa and South Africa?: 33 years are reported by both, from 1980 to 2012.
How do Africa and South Africa rank globally for non-agricultural population?: Africa ranks 1st and South Africa ranks 3rd of 6 groups.
Where does this data come from?: Food and Agriculture Organization, electronic files and web site, published as Non-agricultural population (FAO, number). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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Africa vs South Africa: Non-agricultural population. Statizoid, drawing on Food and Agriculture Organization, electronic files and web site. Retrieved 06 September 2026, from https://environment.statizoid.com/compare/non-agricultural-population-fao-number/africa/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator: Non-agricultural population (FAO, number)
Unit: FAO, number
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization, electronic files and web site
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage: 59 places, 1,934 data points, 1980–2012
Last refreshed: 04 September 2026

The non-agricultural population is obtained as a residual of agricultural population from the total population.