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

364.91 million FAO, number, with Sub-Saharan Africa ahead.

How many years of comparable data are there for South Africa and Sub-Saharan 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.

South Africa vs Sub-Saharan Africa: Non-agricultural population

South Africa

46.12 million FAO, number

in 2012

Sub-Saharan Africa

411.03 million FAO, number

in 2012

South Africa rank

3rd

Sub-Saharan Africa rank

2nd

Non-agricultural population over time

South Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa

How they compare

Sub-Saharan Africa currently reports 411.03 million FAO, number against 46.12 million FAO, number in South Africa, a difference of 364.91 million FAO, number.

That makes Sub-Saharan Africa's figure about 8.9 times South Africa's.

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

South Africa ranks 3rd and Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 2nd of 53 countries.

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

Head to head by decade

Decade	South Africa	Sub-Saharan Africa	Difference	Ahead
1980s	25.35 million FAO, number	142.04 million FAO, number	116.69 million FAO, number	Sub-Saharan Africa
1990s	33.96 million FAO, number	214.40 million FAO, number	180.44 million FAO, number	Sub-Saharan Africa
2000s	41.78 million FAO, number	314.60 million FAO, number	272.83 million FAO, number	Sub-Saharan Africa
2010s	45.68 million FAO, number	396.76 million FAO, number	351.08 million FAO, number	Sub-Saharan Africa

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher non-agricultural population, South Africa or Sub-Saharan Africa?: Sub-Saharan Africa, at 411.03 million FAO, number against 46.12 million FAO, number in South Africa as of 2012.
What is the difference in non-agricultural population between South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa?: 364.91 million FAO, number, with Sub-Saharan Africa ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa?: 33 years are reported by both, from 1980 to 2012.
How do South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa rank globally for non-agricultural population?: South Africa ranks 3rd and Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 2nd of 53 countries.
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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South Africa vs Sub-Saharan Africa: Non-agricultural population. Statizoid, drawing on Food and Agriculture Organization, electronic files and web site. Retrieved 11 September 2026, from https://environment.statizoid.com/compare/non-agricultural-population-fao-number/south-africa/sub-saharan-africa/

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<a href="https://environment.statizoid.com/compare/non-agricultural-population-fao-number/south-africa/sub-saharan-africa/">South Africa vs Sub-Saharan Africa: Non-agricultural population</a> — Statizoid

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.