Air transport, passengers carried in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)

Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries): Air transport, passengers carried was 56.96 million in 2023. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2023)
56.96 million
Change on year
up 24.0%
Rank
31st
of 45 groups
All-time high
66.24 million
in 2019
All-time low
4.59 million
in 1970
Years of data
54
1970–2023

Air transport, passengers carried in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries), 1970–2023

020.0M40.0M60.0M197019962023

Source: Civil Aviation Statistics of the World, International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

Analysis

In 2023, air transport, passengers carried in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) stood at 56.96 million.

The figure is up 24.0% on the previous year and up 30.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, air transport, passengers carried in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) peaked at 66.24 million in 2019 and was at its lowest, 4.59 million, in 1970.

Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) ranks 31st of 45 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Air transport, passengers carried in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries), year by year

Annual values for Air transport, passengers carried in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries), 1970 to 2023.
Year Value Change
1970 4.59 million
1971 5.01 million +9.3%
1972 5.36 million +6.9%
1973 6.26 million +16.8%
1974 6.81 million +8.8%
1975 7.32 million +7.5%
1976 8.58 million +17.2%
1977 8.76 million +2.1%
1978 9.74 million +11.2%
1979 11.29 million +15.9%
1980 13.02 million +15.3%
1981 14.21 million +9.1%
1982 14.28 million +0.5%
1983 14.40 million +0.8%
1984 14.79 million +2.7%
1985 15.18 million +2.7%
1986 14.09 million -7.2%
1987 14.32 million +1.6%
1988 14.86 million +3.8%
1989 14.71 million -1.0%
1990 14.81 million +0.6%
1991 14.21 million -4.0%
1992 13.51 million -4.9%
1993 13.92 million +3.0%
1994 14.94 million +7.3%
1995 15.37 million +2.9%
1996 16.03 million +4.3%
1997 16.48 million +2.8%
1998 16.24 million -1.4%
1999 17.12 million +5.4%
2000 17.91 million +4.6%
2001 17.17 million -4.1%
2002 16.54 million -3.7%
2003 17.88 million +8.2%
2004 20.17 million +12.8%
2005 23.62 million +17.1%
2006 25.78 million +9.1%
2007 27.23 million +5.7%
2008 28.10 million +3.2%
2009 27.75 million -1.2%
2010 38.19 million +37.6%
2011 42.65 million +11.7%
2012 45.41 million +6.5%
2013 43.79 million -3.6%
2014 44.38 million +1.3%
2015 47.85 million +7.8%
2016 49.68 million +3.8%
2017 54.26 million +9.2%
2018 64.95 million +19.7%
2019 66.24 million +2.0%
2020 24.50 million -63.0%
2021 31.48 million +28.5%
2022 45.95 million +45.9%
2023 56.96 million +24.0%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 7.37 million 4.59 million 11.29 million 10
1980s 14.39 million 13.02 million 15.18 million 10
1990s 15.26 million 13.51 million 17.12 million 10
2000s 22.21 million 16.54 million 28.10 million 10
2010s 49.74 million 38.19 million 66.24 million 10
2020s 39.72 million 24.50 million 56.96 million 4

Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)

  1. 28 Netherlands 41.44 million compare
  2. 29 Qatar 37.71 million compare
  3. 30 Switzerland 27.73 million compare
  4. 31 Hong Kong, China 25.70 million compare
  5. 32 Chile 21.32 million compare
  6. 33 Argentina 21.06 million compare
  7. 34 Italy 20.26 million compare

See the full ranking of 230 places →

More infrastructure data for Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)

All data for Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) →

Frequently asked questions

What is air transport, passengers carried in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)?
Air transport, passengers carried in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) was 56.96 million in 2023, according to Civil Aviation Statistics of the World, International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
What is the highest air transport, passengers carried recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)?
The highest recorded value was 66.24 million in 2019.
What is the lowest air transport, passengers carried recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)?
The lowest recorded value was 4.59 million in 1970.
How does Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) rank for air transport, passengers carried?
Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) ranks 31st out of 45 groups with data for 2023.
Is air transport, passengers carried rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)?
Over the last ten years it is up 30.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) data come from?
The figures come from Civil Aviation Statistics of the World, International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), published as part of Air transport, passengers carried. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Air transport, passengers carried in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries). Statizoid, drawing on Civil Aviation Statistics of the World, International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). Retrieved 26 August 2026, from https://infrastructure.statizoid.com/stat/air-transport-passengers-carried/sub-saharan-africa-ida-and-ibrd-countries/

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About this data

Indicator
Air transport, passengers carried
Source
Civil Aviation Statistics of the World, International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
230 places, 10,242 data points, 1970–2023
Last refreshed

Air carrier data per country refers to passengers carried by airlines registered in that country regardless of the origin or destination of the passengers.