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

84.36 million FAO, number, with North Africa ahead.

How many years of comparable data are there for North 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.

North Africa vs South Africa: Non-agricultural population

North Africa

130.48 million FAO, number

in 2012

South Africa

46.12 million FAO, number

in 2012

North Africa rank

6th

South Africa rank

3rd

Non-agricultural population over time

North Africa
South Africa

How they compare

North Africa currently reports 130.48 million FAO, number against 46.12 million FAO, number in South Africa, a difference of 84.36 million FAO, number.

That makes North Africa's figure about 2.8 times South Africa's.

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

North Africa ranks 6th and South Africa ranks 3rd of 6 groups.

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

Head to head by decade

Decade	North Africa	South Africa	Difference	Ahead
1980s	59.08 million FAO, number	25.35 million FAO, number	33.73 million FAO, number	North Africa
1990s	86.01 million FAO, number	33.96 million FAO, number	52.05 million FAO, number	North Africa
2000s	110.18 million FAO, number	41.78 million FAO, number	68.40 million FAO, number	North Africa
2010s	127.71 million FAO, number	45.68 million FAO, number	82.02 million FAO, number	North Africa

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher non-agricultural population, North Africa or South Africa?: North Africa, at 130.48 million FAO, number against 46.12 million FAO, number in South Africa as of 2012.
What is the difference in non-agricultural population between North Africa and South Africa?: 84.36 million FAO, number, with North Africa ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for North Africa and South Africa?: 33 years are reported by both, from 1980 to 2012.
How do North Africa and South Africa rank globally for non-agricultural population?: North Africa ranks 6th 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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North Africa vs South Africa: Non-agricultural population. Statizoid, drawing on Food and Agriculture Organization, electronic files and web site. Retrieved 09 September 2026, from https://environment.statizoid.com/compare/non-agricultural-population-fao-number/north-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.