Colombia vs South Africa: Population aged 65 years or older
Colombia
5,308 thousands
in 2025
South Africa
4,371 thousands
in 2025
Colombia rank
28th
South Africa rank
30th
Population aged 65 years or older over time
- Colombia
- South Africa
How they compare
Colombia currently reports 5,308 thousands against 4,371 thousands in South Africa, a difference of 937 thousands.
That makes Colombia's figure about 1.2 times South Africa's.
The two have swapped places 1 time across 56 shared years of data; in 1970 it was South Africa ahead.
Colombia ranks 28th and South Africa ranks 30th of 226 countries.
Across the 6 decades both report, Colombia averaged higher in 2 and South Africa in 4.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | Colombia | South Africa | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 700.27 thousands | 922.61 thousands | 222.34 thousands | South Africa |
| 1980s | 1,042 thousands | 1,330 thousands | 288.05 thousands | South Africa |
| 1990s | 1,462 thousands | 1,832 thousands | 370.13 thousands | South Africa |
| 2000s | 2,055 thousands | 2,460 thousands | 404.71 thousands | South Africa |
| 2010s | 3,211 thousands | 3,011 thousands | 199.71 thousands | Colombia |
| 2020s | 4,706 thousands | 3,984 thousands | 721.96 thousands | Colombia |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher population aged 65 years or older, Colombia or South Africa?
- Colombia, at 5,308 thousands against 4,371 thousands in South Africa as of 2025.
- What is the difference in population aged 65 years or older between Colombia and South Africa?
- 937 thousands, with Colombia ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for Colombia and South Africa?
- 56 years are reported by both, from 1970 to 2025.
- How do Colombia and South Africa rank globally for population aged 65 years or older?
- Colombia ranks 28th and South Africa ranks 30th of 226 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as Population aged 65 years or older (thousands). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.
Individual pages
About this data
February 2026 Data Release