Women of reproductive age in Eastern and Southern Africa

Eastern and Southern Africa: Women of reproductive age was 161.87 million in 2023. ▲ Rising

Latest (2023)
161.87 million
Change on year
up 2.8%
Rank
4th
of 9 groups
All-time high
161.87 million
in 2023
All-time low
63.05 million
in 1990
Years of data
34
1990–2023

Women of reproductive age in Eastern and Southern Africa, 1990–2023

050.0M100.0M150.0M1990200620231990: 63.1M1991: 65.0M1992: 66.9M1993: 68.6M1994: 70.5M1995: 72.8M1996: 75.3M1997: 77.7M1998: 79.9M1999: 82.2M2000: 84.5M2001: 86.9M2002: 89.3M2003: 91.8M2004: 94.4M2005: 97.0M2006: 99.6M2007: 102.3M2008: 105.2M2009: 108.2M2010: 111.3M2011: 114.4M2012: 117.6M2013: 121.0M2014: 124.5M2015: 128.1M2016: 131.7M2017: 135.5M2018: 139.6M2019: 144.0M2020: 148.4M2021: 152.9M2022: 157.4M2023: 161.9M

Source: UNICEF.

Analysis

In 2023, women of reproductive age in Eastern and Southern Africa stood at 161.87 million. That is the highest value across all 34 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.8% on the previous year and up 33.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, women of reproductive age in Eastern and Southern Africa peaked at 161.87 million in 2023 and was at its lowest, 63.05 million, in 1990.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 34 years of available data.

Women of reproductive age in Eastern and Southern Africa, year by year

Annual values for Women of reproductive age in Eastern and Southern Africa, 1990 to 2023.
Year Value Change
1990 63.05 million
1991 64.96 million +3.0%
1992 66.86 million +2.9%
1993 68.58 million +2.6%
1994 70.49 million +2.8%
1995 72.79 million +3.3%
1996 75.26 million +3.4%
1997 77.67 million +3.2%
1998 79.93 million +2.9%
1999 82.21 million +2.9%
2000 84.52 million +2.8%
2001 86.89 million +2.8%
2002 89.33 million +2.8%
2003 91.83 million +2.8%
2004 94.38 million +2.8%
2005 96.95 million +2.7%
2006 99.59 million +2.7%
2007 102.34 million +2.8%
2008 105.22 million +2.8%
2009 108.20 million +2.8%
2010 111.26 million +2.8%
2011 114.38 million +2.8%
2012 117.61 million +2.8%
2013 121.00 million +2.9%
2014 124.46 million +2.9%
2015 128.08 million +2.9%
2016 131.69 million +2.8%
2017 135.46 million +2.9%
2018 139.63 million +3.1%
2019 143.97 million +3.1%
2020 148.42 million +3.1%
2021 152.93 million +3.0%
2022 157.42 million +2.9%
2023 161.87 million +2.8%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 72.18 million 63.05 million 82.21 million 10
2000s 95.92 million 84.52 million 108.20 million 10
2010s 126.76 million 111.26 million 143.97 million 10
2020s 155.16 million 148.42 million 161.87 million 4

Countries ranked near Eastern and Southern Africa

  1. 1 India 378.81 million compare
  2. 2 China 319.44 million compare
  3. 3 United States of America 77.21 million compare
  4. 4 Indonesia 72.65 million compare
  5. 5 Pakistan 60.55 million compare
  6. 6 Brazil 55.70 million compare
  7. 7 Nigeria 54.28 million compare

See the full ranking of 210 places →

Frequently asked questions

What is women of reproductive age in Eastern and Southern Africa?
Women of reproductive age in Eastern and Southern Africa was 161.87 million in 2023, according to UNICEF.
What is the highest women of reproductive age recorded in Eastern and Southern Africa?
The highest recorded value was 161.87 million in 2023.
What is the lowest women of reproductive age recorded in Eastern and Southern Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 63.05 million in 1990.
How does Eastern and Southern Africa rank for women of reproductive age?
Eastern and Southern Africa ranks 4th out of 9 groups with data for 2023.
Is women of reproductive age rising or falling in Eastern and Southern Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 33.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Eastern and Southern Africa data come from?
The figures come from UNICEF, published as part of Women of reproductive age. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Women of reproductive age in Eastern and Southern Africa. Statizoid, drawing on UNICEF. Retrieved 07 September 2026, from https://gender.statizoid.com/stat/women-of-reproductive-age/eastern-and-southern-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Women of reproductive age
Source
UNICEF
Licence
UNICEF Terms of Use (attribution required)
Coverage
210 places, 7,140 data points, 1990–2023
Last refreshed