Africa · Southern Africa
South Africa Demographics
South Africa has a 2025 resident mid-year population of 63.10 million, positive population growth, fertility close to the replacement benchmark, a large working-age population, and a female-heavy older age structure.
Primary resident estimates use Statistics South Africa P0302, 2025. Urban values use World Bank WDI, 2024. Projection rows use UN DESA World Population Prospects 2024 through UNdata. Median age uses a Worldometer presentation of UN WPP 2024 because the direct UN median-age table is not displayed in the UNdata view used here.
Last updated: July 2026
Core Demographic Indicators
Population
63,100,945
Population growth
1.23%
Median age
28.7 years
Fertility rate
2.21
Life expectancy
66.9 years
Urban population
64%
Aged 65+
4.47 million
Net migration
+865,346
Detailed Demographic Indicators
| Indicator | Value | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Resident mid-year population | 63,100,945 | 2025 | Statistics South Africa P0302 |
| Male population | 30,872,106 | 2025 | Statistics South Africa P0302 |
| Female population | 32,228,839 | 2025 | Statistics South Africa P0302 |
| Female share of population | 51.08% | 2025 | Derived from Statistics South Africa P0302 |
| Sex ratio | 95.8 males per 100 females | 2025 | Derived from Statistics South Africa P0302 |
| Annual population growth rate | 1.23% | 2024–2025 | Statistics South Africa P0302 |
| Children aged 0–14 | 16,515,506 · 26.17% | 2025 | Derived from Statistics South Africa age-sex table |
| Working-age population 15–64 | 42,115,232 · 66.74% | 2025 | Derived from Statistics South Africa age-sex table |
| Population aged 65+ | 4,470,207 · 7.08% | 2025 | Derived from Statistics South Africa age-sex table |
| Population aged 60+ | 6,605,086 · 10.47% | 2025 | Derived from Statistics South Africa age-sex table |
| Total fertility rate | 2.21 births per woman | 2025 | Statistics South Africa P0302, TFR assumption |
| Crude birth rate | 17.8 per 1,000 population | 2025 | Statistics South Africa P0302 |
| Crude death rate | 8.8 per 1,000 population | 2025 | Statistics South Africa P0302 |
| Rate of natural increase | 0.89% | 2025 | Statistics South Africa P0302 |
| Life expectancy at birth, total | 66.9 years | 2025 | Statistics South Africa P0302 |
| Life expectancy at birth, male | 64.0 years | 2025 | Statistics South Africa P0302 |
| Life expectancy at birth, female | 69.6 years | 2025 | Statistics South Africa P0302 |
| Infant mortality rate | 23.1 per 1,000 live births | 2025 | Statistics South Africa P0302 |
| Under-5 mortality rate | 26.1 per 1,000 live births | 2025 | Statistics South Africa P0302 |
| Net international migration | +865,346 | 2021–2026 | Statistics South Africa five-year migration assumption |
| Immigration count | Data not available | 2021–2026 | Not separately reported in the Statistics South Africa P0302 migration assumption table |
| Emigration count | Data not available | 2021–2026 | Not separately reported in the Statistics South Africa P0302 migration assumption table |
| Urban population share | 64% | 2024 | World Bank WDI |
| Urban population count | 40.77 million | 2024 | World Bank WDI |
| Largest province by population | Gauteng · 16,104,933 | 2025 | Statistics South Africa P0302 |
| Medium-variant projection | 94,314,448 | 2100 | UN DESA WPP 2024 through UNdata |
Table analysis
- The 2025 resident mid-year estimate is 63,100,945, with females accounting for 51.08% of the population.
- The 2024–2025 annual growth rate is 1.23%, while the rate of natural increase is 0.89%; migration and age-structure effects are not the same measure as natural increase.
- The 15–64 population is 42.12 million, or 66.74% of the 2025 resident population.
- The 65+ count is 4.47 million, while the 60+ count is 6.61 million; these are different ageing thresholds and should not be added together.
- Urban values use a 2024 World Bank source year, so they should not be treated as 2025 resident-register values.
Age Structure and Broad Population Balance
South Africa Age Structure, 2025
Resident mid-year population by broad age group.
Hover or click the chart to inspect values.
Source: Statistics South Africa P0302, 2025. Broad groups are derived from five-year age-sex counts.
Chart analysis
- The 15–64 group contains 42.12 million people, about two-thirds of the 2025 resident population.
- Children aged 0–14 total 16.52 million, a larger group than the 65+ population of 4.47 million.
- The 65+ share is 7.08% using the 65+ threshold, while the 60+ share is 10.47% using the threshold reported in the national summary.
| Age group | Population | Share | Male | Female | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0–14 | 16,515,506 | 26.17% | 8,351,692 | 8,163,814 | 2025 | Derived from Statistics South Africa P0302 |
| 15–64 | 42,115,232 | 66.74% | 21,101,032 | 21,014,200 | 2025 | Derived from Statistics South Africa P0302 |
| 65+ | 4,470,207 | 7.08% | 1,686,416 | 2,783,791 | 2025 | Derived from Statistics South Africa P0302 |
| 60+ | 6,605,086 | 10.47% | 2,594,021 | 4,011,065 | 2025 | Derived from Statistics South Africa P0302; overlaps with the 65+ row |
Table analysis
- The broad 0–14, 15–64 and 65+ rows form a full age-structure split of the 2025 resident population.
- The 60+ row is included because the national release reports 60+ in its summary; it overlaps with the 65+ row and is not part of the three-group split.
- The 65+ group is female-heavy: 2.78 million females and 1.69 million males.
Life Expectancy and Vital Rates
Life Expectancy at Birth, 2002–2025
Total, male and female life expectancy in the revised national series.
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Source: Statistics South Africa P0302, Appendix 2, 2002–2025.
Trend analysis
- Total life expectancy rises from 55.2 years in 2002 to 66.9 years in 2025 in the revised series.
- The 2021 value falls to 62.6 years before recovering to 64.6 years in 2022 and 66.9 years in 2025.
- Females have higher life expectancy in every listed year; the 2025 female-male gap is 5.6 years.
Birth and Death Rates, 2002–2025
Crude birth rate and crude death rate per 1,000 population.
Hover or click the chart to inspect values.
Source: Statistics South Africa P0302, Appendix 2, 2002–2025.
Chart analysis
- The crude birth rate falls from 21.2 per 1,000 in 2002 to 17.8 per 1,000 in 2025.
- The crude death rate peaks in this displayed series at 13.8 per 1,000 in 2005 and 2006, then reaches 8.8 per 1,000 in 2024 and 2025.
- The 2021 death-rate rise to 11.5 per 1,000 is visible as a break in the otherwise lower post-2012 death-rate path.
| Year | Birth rate | Death rate | Natural increase | Life expectancy | Male life expectancy | Female life expectancy | Infant mortality | Under-5 mortality | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 21.2 | 12.9 | 0.82% | 55.2 | 52.7 | 57.6 | 61.9 | 79.9 | Statistics South Africa P0302 |
| 2003 | 20.7 | 13.3 | 0.73% | 54.6 | 52.1 | 57.0 | 63.4 | 80.2 | Statistics South Africa P0302 |
| 2004 | 22.0 | 13.6 | 0.83% | 54.3 | 51.9 | 56.5 | 63.6 | 80.0 | Statistics South Africa P0302 |
| 2005 | 23.1 | 13.8 | 0.91% | 54.1 | 51.9 | 56.2 | 61.8 | 79.5 | Statistics South Africa P0302 |
| 2006 | 23.5 | 13.8 | 0.95% | 54.2 | 51.8 | 56.5 | 61.8 | 79.6 | Statistics South Africa P0302 |
| 2007 | 23.7 | 13.6 | 0.99% | 54.9 | 52.6 | 57.1 | 55.1 | 76.2 | Statistics South Africa P0302 |
| 2008 | 23.9 | 12.8 | 1.09% | 56.5 | 54.0 | 58.8 | 49.3 | 66.6 | Statistics South Africa P0302 |
| 2009 | 23.2 | 12.2 | 1.08% | 57.7 | 55.0 | 60.3 | 45.1 | 57.9 | Statistics South Africa P0302 |
| 2010 | 22.6 | 11.8 | 1.06% | 58.6 | 55.9 | 61.1 | 43.8 | 53.9 | Statistics South Africa P0302 |
| 2011 | 22.5 | 11.1 | 1.12% | 60.1 | 57.0 | 63.0 | 38.7 | 46.5 | Statistics South Africa P0302 |
| 2012 | 22.2 | 9.9 | 1.21% | 62.3 | 59.4 | 65.0 | 32.3 | 39.7 | Statistics South Africa P0302 |
| 2013 | 21.5 | 9.7 | 1.17% | 62.9 | 59.9 | 65.7 | 32.9 | 38.7 | Statistics South Africa P0302 |
| 2014 | 21.5 | 9.2 | 1.21% | 63.9 | 61.0 | 66.8 | 30.4 | 37.1 | Statistics South Africa P0302 |
| 2015 | 20.3 | 9.1 | 1.10% | 64.4 | 61.4 | 67.2 | 29.1 | 36.0 | Statistics South Africa P0302 |
| 2016 | 18.8 | 9.1 | 0.96% | 64.5 | 61.5 | 67.4 | 28.6 | 35.6 | Statistics South Africa P0302 |
| 2017 | 18.7 | 9.0 | 0.96% | 64.9 | 61.9 | 67.7 | 27.0 | 34.0 | Statistics South Africa P0302 |
| 2018 | 19.4 | 9.0 | 1.03% | 65.1 | 62.2 | 67.8 | 26.2 | 32.1 | Statistics South Africa P0302 |
| 2019 | 19.5 | 8.9 | 1.04% | 65.5 | 62.6 | 68.4 | 24.7 | 29.0 | Statistics South Africa P0302 |
| 2020 | 19.4 | 8.9 | 1.04% | 65.9 | 62.8 | 68.8 | 24.5 | 27.7 | Statistics South Africa P0302 |
| 2021 | 19.1 | 11.5 | 0.75% | 62.6 | 59.8 | 65.2 | 25.1 | 28.4 | Statistics South Africa P0302 |
| 2022 | 18.7 | 10.0 | 0.86% | 64.6 | 61.7 | 67.4 | 25.0 | 28.2 | Statistics South Africa P0302 |
| 2023 | 18.3 | 8.9 | 0.92% | 66.3 | 63.2 | 69.2 | 24.3 | 27.4 | Statistics South Africa P0302 |
| 2024 | 18.0 | 8.8 | 0.91% | 66.7 | 63.8 | 69.4 | 23.2 | 26.4 | Statistics South Africa P0302 |
| 2025 | 17.8 | 8.8 | 0.89% | 66.9 | 64.0 | 69.6 | 23.1 | 26.1 | Statistics South Africa P0302 |
Table analysis
- The revised series runs from 2002 to 2025 and keeps vital-rate, life-expectancy and child-mortality indicators in one source family.
- Infant mortality declines from 61.9 per 1,000 live births in 2002 to 23.1 in 2025.
- The rate of natural increase stays positive in every year shown, with a low of 0.73% in 2003 and a 2025 value of 0.89%.
- Birth and death rates are period indicators; they are not the same as total population growth because migration is also part of population change.
Fertility, Births and Deaths
Fertility Rate Compared With Replacement Benchmark
Statistics South Africa 2025 TFR assumption beside the 2.1 replacement benchmark.
Hover or click the chart to inspect values.
Source: Statistics South Africa P0302, Appendix 5. Replacement benchmark shown as a reference value, not a country-specific threshold.
Chart analysis
- The 2025 TFR assumption is 2.21 births per woman, close to the 2.1 replacement benchmark.
- The gap above the benchmark is 0.11 births per woman in this comparison.
Births and Deaths, 2002–2025
Estimated live births and deaths in the revised national series.
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Source: Statistics South Africa P0302, Table 7, 2002–2025.
Trend analysis
- Births remain above deaths in every listed year from 2002 through 2025.
- The 2025 estimate shows 1,117,840 births and 557,164 deaths.
- Deaths reach the displayed-series high of 690,939 in 2021.
| Year | Fertility rate | Births | Deaths | Natural change | AIDS-related deaths | AIDS-related death share | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 2.55 | 982,627 | 600,819 | 381,808 | 216,649 | 36.1% | Statistics South Africa P0302 |
| 2003 | 2.48 | 969,589 | 627,928 | 341,661 | 242,358 | 38.6% | Statistics South Africa P0302 |
| 2004 | 2.62 | 1,042,137 | 649,085 | 393,052 | 253,597 | 39.1% | Statistics South Africa P0302 |
| 2005 | 2.74 | 1,105,210 | 665,558 | 439,652 | 272,508 | 40.9% | Statistics South Africa P0302 |
| 2006 | 2.77 | 1,137,244 | 673,516 | 463,728 | 275,348 | 40.9% | Statistics South Africa P0302 |
| 2007 | 2.77 | 1,160,263 | 669,914 | 490,349 | 252,392 | 37.7% | Statistics South Africa P0302 |
| 2008 | 2.78 | 1,185,987 | 642,486 | 543,501 | 215,337 | 33.5% | Statistics South Africa P0302 |
| 2009 | 2.70 | 1,171,502 | 621,064 | 550,438 | 186,697 | 30.1% | Statistics South Africa P0302 |
| 2010 | 2.62 | 1,156,746 | 608,810 | 547,936 | 169,076 | 27.8% | Statistics South Africa P0302 |
| 2011 | 2.60 | 1,167,060 | 579,091 | 587,969 | 140,809 | 24.3% | Statistics South Africa P0302 |
| 2012 | 2.56 | 1,171,207 | 528,193 | 643,014 | 114,252 | 21.6% | Statistics South Africa P0302 |
| 2013 | 2.49 | 1,153,570 | 523,445 | 630,125 | 104,330 | 19.9% | Statistics South Africa P0302 |
| 2014 | 2.49 | 1,169,536 | 506,120 | 663,416 | 84,283 | 16.7% | Statistics South Africa P0302 |
| 2015 | 2.35 | 1,120,064 | 505,168 | 614,896 | 83,672 | 16.6% | Statistics South Africa P0302 |
| 2016 | 2.19 | 1,055,340 | 511,007 | 544,333 | 84,622 | 16.6% | Statistics South Africa P0302 |
| 2017 | 2.18 | 1,062,148 | 514,426 | 547,722 | 82,835 | 16.1% | Statistics South Africa P0302 |
| 2018 | 2.28 | 1,118,566 | 522,182 | 596,384 | 81,158 | 15.5% | Statistics South Africa P0302 |
| 2019 | 2.30 | 1,138,289 | 523,898 | 614,391 | 79,929 | 15.3% | Statistics South Africa P0302 |
| 2020 | 2.31 | 1,150,914 | 529,444 | 621,470 | 81,186 | 15.3% | Statistics South Africa P0302 |
| 2021 | 2.28 | 1,144,526 | 690,939 | 453,587 | 80,300 | 11.6% | Statistics South Africa P0302 |
| 2022 | 2.26 | 1,131,070 | 610,193 | 520,877 | 78,642 | 12.9% | Statistics South Africa P0302 |
| 2023 | 2.23 | 1,119,345 | 550,549 | 568,796 | 79,627 | 14.5% | Statistics South Africa P0302 |
| 2024 | 2.21 | 1,115,478 | 550,474 | 565,004 | 79,703 | 14.5% | Statistics South Africa P0302 |
| 2025 | 2.21 | 1,117,840 | 557,164 | 560,676 | 77,639 | 13.9% | Statistics South Africa P0302 |
Table analysis
- The TFR assumption declines from 2.78 in 2008 to 2.21 in 2025.
- Natural change in this table is derived as births minus deaths; it excludes net migration.
- The largest natural-change value in the displayed table is 663,416 in 2014.
- The 2021 death count of 690,939 is the highest value in the listed birth-death series.
Migration Balance
Net International Migration Assumptions
Five-year net migration assumptions used in national mid-year population estimates.
Hover or click the chart to inspect values.
Source: Statistics South Africa P0302, migration assumptions table. Positive values indicate net inward migration.
Chart analysis
- Every listed five-year period has positive net international migration.
- The highest listed period is 2011–2016 with 1,054,900 net migrants.
- The 2021–2026 assumption is 865,346, lower than 2011–2016 but still positive.
| Period | Black African net migration | Indian/Asian net migration | White net migration | Total net migration | Flow definition | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001–2006 | 587,480 | 29,636 | -61,618 | 555,497 | 1 July of first year to 30 June of last year | Statistics South Africa P0302 |
| 2006–2011 | 889,399 | 49,764 | -114,052 | 825,111 | 1 July of first year to 30 June of last year | Statistics South Africa P0302 |
| 2011–2016 | 1,084,475 | 11,288 | -40,863 | 1,054,900 | 1 July of first year to 30 June of last year | Statistics South Africa P0302 |
| 2016–2021 | 966,673 | 7,009 | -46,955 | 926,727 | 1 July of first year to 30 June of last year | Statistics South Africa P0302 |
| 2021–2026 | 903,697 | 56,547 | -94,898 | 865,346 | 1 July of first year to 30 June of last year | Statistics South Africa P0302 |
Table analysis
- The table reports net migration assumptions, not separate immigration and emigration counts.
- The 2021–2026 total of 865,346 combines positive Black African and Indian/Asian net migration with negative White net migration.
- White net migration is negative in all five listed periods.
- The migration periods are five-year flows; they should not be read as single-year migration counts.
Urbanization
Urban and Non-Urban Population Share, 2024
World Bank WDI urban population share with the remainder shown as non-urban.
Source: World Bank WDI, 2024. Non-urban share is the remainder from the reported urban share.
Chart analysis
- The World Bank WDI urban population share is 64% in 2024.
- The urban population count in the same WDI series is 40.77 million.
- Urban series depend on national definitions and UN urbanization methods; they are not a 2025 resident mid-year estimate.
| Year | Urban share | Urban population | Definition note | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 64% | 40.77 million | Urban share follows the World Bank WDI urban population series. | World Bank WDI |
Table analysis
- The urban table uses a single WDI source year, 2024.
- No 2025 World Bank WDI urban value is used here because the visible WDI urban rows available for this page are 2024 rows.
Provincial Population Distribution
Population by Province, 2025
Resident mid-year population estimates across South Africa’s nine provinces.
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Source: Statistics South Africa P0302, 2025 provincial distribution table.
Chart analysis
- Gauteng is the largest province with 16.10 million residents, or 25.5% of the national population.
- KwaZulu-Natal is second with 12.23 million, or 19.4%.
- Northern Cape has the smallest provincial population in this table, at 1.38 million.
| Province | Population | Share | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern Cape | 7,090,788 | 11.2% | 2025 | Statistics South Africa P0302 |
| Free State | 3,039,834 | 4.8% | 2025 | Statistics South Africa P0302 |
| Gauteng | 16,104,933 | 25.5% | 2025 | Statistics South Africa P0302 |
| KwaZulu-Natal | 12,232,247 | 19.4% | 2025 | Statistics South Africa P0302 |
| Limpopo | 6,366,192 | 10.1% | 2025 | Statistics South Africa P0302 |
| Mpumalanga | 5,076,133 | 8.0% | 2025 | Statistics South Africa P0302 |
| Northern Cape | 1,379,183 | 2.2% | 2025 | Statistics South Africa P0302 |
| North West | 4,183,947 | 6.6% | 2025 | Statistics South Africa P0302 |
| Western Cape | 7,627,688 | 12.1% | 2025 | Statistics South Africa P0302 |
Table analysis
- Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal together account for 44.9% of the 2025 resident population.
- The three largest provinces by population are Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and Western Cape.
- Northern Cape accounts for 2.2% of the national population, the lowest provincial share in the table.
Projection Scenario
UN WPP 2100 Projection Scenarios
Scenario-based population projections for 2100.
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Source: UN DESA World Population Prospects 2024 through UNdata. Projection values are scenario-based estimates, not observed counts.
Projection analysis
- The UN medium-variant 2100 value shown here is 94.31 million.
- The 2100 low-variant value is 64.64 million, while the high-variant value is 133.87 million.
- The wide scenario range reflects fertility, mortality and migration assumptions; it is not an observed population path.
| Scenario | Year | Projected population | Measure type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Medium variant | 2098 | 93,893,514 | Projection | UN DESA WPP 2024 through UNdata |
| Medium variant | 2099 | 94,101,365 | Projection | UN DESA WPP 2024 through UNdata |
| Medium variant | 2100 | 94,314,448 | Projection | UN DESA WPP 2024 through UNdata |
| High variant | 2100 | 133,865,486 | Projection | UN DESA WPP 2024 through UNdata |
| Low variant | 2100 | 64,639,605 | Projection | UN DESA WPP 2024 through UNdata |
| Constant fertility | 2100 | 119,964,751 | Projection | UN DESA WPP 2024 through UNdata |
| Zero migration | 2100 | 70,288,720 | Projection | UN DESA WPP 2024 through UNdata |
| Upper 80 prediction interval | 2100 | 132,254,198 | Projection interval | UN DESA WPP 2024 through UNdata |
| Lower 80 prediction interval | 2100 | 66,832,064 | Projection interval | UN DESA WPP 2024 through UNdata |
| Upper 95 prediction interval | 2100 | 159,290,151 | Projection interval | UN DESA WPP 2024 through UNdata |
| Lower 95 prediction interval | 2100 | 53,312,138 | Projection interval | UN DESA WPP 2024 through UNdata |
Projection analysis
- The 2098–2100 medium-variant rows are kept separate from 2025 national resident estimates.
- The 2100 medium variant is 41.21 million higher than the 2025 Statistics South Africa resident estimate, but the two values come from different source systems.
- Projection intervals should be read as uncertainty ranges, not as alternative official resident counts.
Age-Sex Population Structure
South Africa Population Pyramid
Population by five-year age group and sex, 2025.
Hover or click the chart to inspect values.
Source: Statistics South Africa P0302, 2025 national age-sex table. Male values are plotted on the left side of the pyramid.
Age-sex analysis
- The largest five-year age group is 35–39, with 5,633,621 residents.
- Male counts are higher than female counts through most younger and working ages up to 45–49.
- The balance shifts from age 50–54, where females make up 51.15% of the age group.
- The 80+ age group is strongly female-heavy: 482,014 females and 223,034 males.
- The sex ratio falls from 102.5 males per 100 females at ages 0–4 to 46.3 at ages 80+.
Sex Ratio by Age Group, 2025
Males per 100 females by five-year age group.
Hover or click the chart to inspect values.
Source: Derived from Statistics South Africa P0302 age-sex counts, 2025.
Chart analysis
- The sex ratio is above 100 in each age group from 0–4 through 45–49.
- The sex ratio drops below 100 at ages 50–54.
- Older ages show a wide female majority, with the 80+ ratio at 46.3 males per 100 females.
| Age group | Male | Female | Total | Male share | Female share | Sex ratio | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0–4 | 2,790,128 | 2,722,873 | 5,513,001 | 50.61% | 49.39% | 102.5 | 2025 | Statistics South Africa P0302 |
| 5–9 | 2,730,286 | 2,665,253 | 5,395,539 | 50.60% | 49.40% | 102.4 | 2025 | Statistics South Africa P0302 |
| 10–14 | 2,831,278 | 2,775,688 | 5,606,966 | 50.50% | 49.50% | 102.0 | 2025 | Statistics South Africa P0302 |
| 15–19 | 2,767,432 | 2,732,803 | 5,500,235 | 50.31% | 49.69% | 101.3 | 2025 | Statistics South Africa P0302 |
| 20–24 | 2,407,414 | 2,385,627 | 4,793,041 | 50.23% | 49.77% | 100.9 | 2025 | Statistics South Africa P0302 |
| 25–29 | 2,500,901 | 2,465,326 | 4,966,227 | 50.36% | 49.64% | 101.4 | 2025 | Statistics South Africa P0302 |
| 30–34 | 2,762,030 | 2,742,243 | 5,504,273 | 50.18% | 49.82% | 100.7 | 2025 | Statistics South Africa P0302 |
| 35–39 | 2,835,996 | 2,797,625 | 5,633,621 | 50.34% | 49.66% | 101.4 | 2025 | Statistics South Africa P0302 |
| 40–44 | 2,330,489 | 2,295,603 | 4,626,092 | 50.38% | 49.62% | 101.5 | 2025 | Statistics South Africa P0302 |
| 45–49 | 1,767,591 | 1,762,035 | 3,529,626 | 50.08% | 49.92% | 100.3 | 2025 | Statistics South Africa P0302 |
| 50–54 | 1,449,841 | 1,518,177 | 2,968,018 | 48.85% | 51.15% | 95.5 | 2025 | Statistics South Africa P0302 |
| 55–59 | 1,104,699 | 1,354,521 | 2,459,220 | 44.92% | 55.08% | 81.6 | 2025 | Statistics South Africa P0302 |
| 60–64 | 907,605 | 1,227,274 | 2,134,879 | 42.51% | 57.49% | 73.9 | 2025 | Statistics South Africa P0302 |
| 65–69 | 689,505 | 1,009,392 | 1,698,897 | 40.59% | 59.41% | 68.3 | 2025 | Statistics South Africa P0302 |
| 70–74 | 483,382 | 770,016 | 1,253,398 | 38.57% | 61.43% | 62.8 | 2025 | Statistics South Africa P0302 |
| 75–79 | 290,495 | 522,369 | 812,864 | 35.74% | 64.26% | 55.6 | 2025 | Statistics South Africa P0302 |
| 80+ | 223,034 | 482,014 | 705,048 | 31.63% | 68.37% | 46.3 | 2025 | Statistics South Africa P0302 |
| Total | 30,872,106 | 32,228,839 | 63,100,945 | 48.92% | 51.08% | 95.8 | 2025 | Statistics South Africa P0302 |
Age-sex analysis
- The age-sex table is based on five-year groups from 0–4 through 80+ and includes both counts and derived shares.
- The youth side of the age structure is large: the three groups from 0–14 contain 16.52 million residents.
- The 35–39 group is the largest five-year group for both males and females combined.
- Older ages show a clear female majority, especially from age 65 onward.
- Percentages and sex ratios are derived from the published male and female counts, so small rounding differences may appear.
Population Growth by Age Band
| Period | Children 0–14 | Youth 15–24 | Adults 25–59 | Older persons 60+ | Total population | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002–2003 | -1.53% | 3.48% | 1.50% | 1.65% | 0.94% | Statistics South Africa P0302 |
| 2003–2004 | -1.13% | 3.34% | 1.48% | 1.77% | 1.06% | Statistics South Africa P0302 |
| 2004–2005 | -0.59% | 2.78% | 1.55% | 1.95% | 1.18% | Statistics South Africa P0302 |
| 2005–2006 | -0.25% | 1.86% | 1.84% | 2.18% | 1.23% | Statistics South Africa P0302 |
| 2006–2007 | 0.04% | 1.40% | 1.97% | 2.26% | 1.29% | Statistics South Africa P0302 |
| 2007–2008 | 0.40% | 0.98% | 2.15% | 2.38% | 1.40% | Statistics South Africa P0302 |
| 2008–2009 | 0.54% | 0.57% | 2.26% | 2.51% | 1.42% | Statistics South Africa P0302 |
| 2009–2010 | 0.62% | 0.15% | 2.37% | 2.62% | 1.42% | Statistics South Africa P0302 |
| 2010–2011 | 0.89% | -0.98% | 2.88% | 2.76% | 1.50% | Statistics South Africa P0302 |
| 2011–2012 | 1.21% | -1.33% | 2.94% | 3.05% | 1.59% | Statistics South Africa P0302 |
| 2012–2013 | 1.29% | -1.67% | 2.90% | 3.03% | 1.56% | Statistics South Africa P0302 |
| 2013–2014 | 1.34% | -1.62% | 2.86% | 3.17% | 1.61% | Statistics South Africa P0302 |
| 2014–2015 | 0.95% | -1.33% | 2.70% | 3.17% | 1.51% | Statistics South Africa P0302 |
| 2015–2016 | 0.72% | -1.42% | 2.53% | 3.12% | 1.37% | Statistics South Africa P0302 |
| 2016–2017 | 0.81% | -1.38% | 2.41% | 3.09% | 1.36% | Statistics South Africa P0302 |
| 2017–2018 | 1.23% | -1.43% | 2.27% | 3.12% | 1.44% | Statistics South Africa P0302 |
| 2018–2019 | 0.96% | -0.56% | 2.12% | 3.15% | 1.46% | Statistics South Africa P0302 |
| 2019–2020 | 0.65% | 0.07% | 1.87% | 3.09% | 1.36% | Statistics South Africa P0302 |
| 2020–2021 | 0.34% | 0.19% | 1.28% | 1.87% | 0.90% | Statistics South Africa P0302 |
| 2021–2022 | 0.07% | 1.15% | 1.25% | 2.59% | 1.04% | Statistics South Africa P0302 |
| 2022–2023 | -0.16% | 1.99% | 1.25% | 3.02% | 1.16% | Statistics South Africa P0302 |
| 2023–2024 | -0.15% | 2.06% | 1.32% | 2.93% | 1.21% | Statistics South Africa P0302 |
| 2024–2025 | -0.06% | 1.88% | 1.37% | 2.83% | 1.23% | Statistics South Africa P0302 |
Table analysis
- The 60+ growth rate is positive in every listed period and is 2.83% in 2024–2025.
- The children 0–14 growth rate is negative in 2022–2023, 2023–2024 and 2024–2025.
- Total population growth ranges from 0.90% in 2020–2021 to 1.61% in 2013–2014.
- Age-band growth rates are annual rates; they should not be read as age-specific migration rates.
Demographic Overview
Population direction
The 2025 national estimate shows continued growth, with a 2024–2025 annual rate of 1.23% and a resident mid-year total of 63.10 million.
Age structure
The population remains weighted toward working ages: the 15–64 group accounts for 66.74% of the 2025 resident population.
Age-sex balance
Younger age groups are slightly male-heavy, while older ages are female-heavy; the 80+ group has 46.3 males per 100 females.
Fertility pattern
The 2025 TFR assumption is 2.21 births per woman, close to the 2.1 replacement benchmark used for broad comparison.
Migration balance
The 2021–2026 net migration assumption is positive at 865,346, but separate immigration and emigration counts are not reported in the visible migration table.
Source caution
Resident estimates, WDI urban values and UN projection scenarios use different definitions and source years, so they are not merged into one trend line.
Data Sources and Methodology
Values are kept in their source definitions. Statistics South Africa resident mid-year estimates are used for the national 2025 demographic profile. World Bank WDI is used only for urbanization. UN DESA WPP 2024 through UNdata is used only for projection scenarios. Derived shares and sex ratios use published count values and are rounded for display.
| Source | Year or release | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| Statistics South Africa, Mid-year population estimates P0302 | 2025 release | Resident population, male/female counts, age-sex structure, growth rates, fertility assumptions, births, deaths, mortality indicators, migration assumptions and provincial distribution. |
| World Bank World Development Indicators | 2024 urban series | Urban population share and urban population count only. |
| UN DESA World Population Prospects 2024 through UNdata | 2024 revision; projection years shown to 2100 | Projection scenario table and projection chart only. |
| Worldometer presentation of UN DESA WPP 2024 | 2025 medium-variant presentation | Median age card only; used because the direct UN median-age table is not displayed in the UNdata view used for this page. |
Method note
- The active source list includes only sources used for visible values, charts, tables or data-availability notes.
- Stats SA values are resident mid-year estimates and period assumptions; WDI urban values use a separate 2024 source year.
- UN projection values are scenario-based and are not blended with the 2025 resident estimate in a single trend chart.
Indicator Definitions
| Indicator | Definition | Unit | Source note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Resident mid-year population | Estimated resident population at mid-year. | People | Statistics South Africa states that mid-year estimates refer to 30 June. |
| Total fertility rate | Average number of children a woman would have under the age-specific fertility rates used in the estimate. | Births per woman | Statistics South Africa TFR assumption series, 2002–2025. |
| Crude birth rate | Births during the period per 1,000 population. | Per 1,000 population | Statistics South Africa period indicator. |
| Crude death rate | Deaths during the period per 1,000 population. | Per 1,000 population | Statistics South Africa period indicator. |
| Rate of natural increase | Births minus deaths expressed as a rate; migration is excluded. | Percent | Statistics South Africa P0302. |
| Sex ratio | Number of males per 100 females. | Males per 100 females | Derived from published male and female counts. |
| Urban population share | Share of the population classified as urban in the WDI urban series. | Percent | World Bank WDI, 2024. |
| Projection | Scenario-based future population estimate using demographic assumptions. | People | UN DESA WPP 2024 through UNdata. |
Method note
- The definitions table separates stock measures such as population from flow measures such as births, deaths and migration.
- Sex ratios and age shares are derived from count data and rounded for readable display.
- Projection values should be read with their scenario label.
Methodological Safety Note
Methodological Safety Note: South Africa demographic values on this page use several measurement systems. Statistics South Africa resident mid-year estimates are not the same as UN model estimates. Census counts, mid-year estimates and projection scenarios should not be merged without a source crosswalk. Births, deaths, fertility and mortality indicators are period measures, while population is a stock measure at mid-year. Urban values use the World Bank WDI urban series and a 2024 source year. Migration values shown here are net five-year assumptions, not separate immigration and emigration counts. Age-sex shares, broad age-group totals and sex ratios are derived from the 2025 Stats SA age-sex table and rounded for display.
South Africa Demographics FAQ
What is South Africa’s population in 2025?
Statistics South Africa estimates the resident mid-year population at 63,100,945 in 2025.
Is South Africa’s population still growing?
Yes. The Statistics South Africa revised series shows a 1.23% annual population growth rate for 2024–2025.
Is South Africa’s fertility rate below replacement level?
The 2025 TFR assumption is 2.21 births per woman, close to but above the broad 2.1 replacement benchmark used here for comparison.
Which age groups have more females than males?
In the 2025 age-sex table, females outnumber males from the 50–54 age group onward, with the widest imbalance in the 80+ group.
Why are urban values from 2024 while population values are from 2025?
The latest visible urban values used here come from the World Bank WDI 2024 urban series, while the resident national population comes from Statistics South Africa 2025.