Annual population growth in South Africa
South Africa: Annual population growth was 833,969 in 2023. ▲ Rising
Latest (2023)
833,969
Change on year
down 4.8%
World rank
26th
of 236 countries
All-time high
1.15 million
in 1988
All-time low
270,524
in 1951
Years of data
73
1951–2023
Annual population growth in South Africa, 1951–2023
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2023, annual population growth in South Africa stood at 833,969.
The figure is down 4.8% on the previous year and down 6.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual population growth in South Africa peaked at 1.15 million in 1988 and was at its lowest, 270,524, in 1951.
South Africa ranks 26th of 236 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 73 years of available data.
Annual population growth in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1951 | 270,524 | — |
| 1952 | 286,521 | +5.9% |
| 1953 | 297,371 | +3.8% |
| 1954 | 310,864 | +4.5% |
| 1955 | 329,590 | +6.0% |
| 1956 | 347,315 | +5.4% |
| 1957 | 364,152 | +4.8% |
| 1958 | 375,582 | +3.1% |
| 1959 | 394,550 | +5.1% |
| 1960 | 425,205 | +7.8% |
| 1961 | 467,864 | +10.0% |
| 1962 | 510,483 | +9.1% |
| 1963 | 536,038 | +5.0% |
| 1964 | 556,807 | +3.9% |
| 1965 | 578,015 | +3.8% |
| 1966 | 600,702 | +3.9% |
| 1967 | 623,988 | +3.9% |
| 1968 | 643,215 | +3.1% |
| 1969 | 657,392 | +2.2% |
| 1970 | 665,311 | +1.2% |
| 1971 | 662,155 | -0.5% |
| 1972 | 667,312 | +0.8% |
| 1973 | 684,807 | +2.6% |
| 1974 | 694,845 | +1.5% |
| 1975 | 701,834 | +1.0% |
| 1976 | 704,508 | +0.4% |
| 1977 | 723,500 | +2.7% |
| 1978 | 750,555 | +3.7% |
| 1979 | 764,655 | +1.9% |
| 1980 | 884,696 | +15.7% |
| 1981 | 1.02 million | +15.5% |
| 1982 | 1.07 million | +5.1% |
| 1983 | 1.12 million | +4.6% |
| 1984 | 1.15 million | +2.6% |
| 1985 | 1.15 million | -0.4% |
| 1986 | 1.14 million | -0.9% |
| 1987 | 1.15 million | +0.6% |
| 1988 | 1.15 million | +0.8% |
| 1989 | 1.15 million | -0.6% |
| 1990 | 1.12 million | -2.6% |
| 1991 | 941,629 | -15.8% |
| 1992 | 755,607 | -19.8% |
| 1993 | 853,645 | +13.0% |
| 1994 | 706,985 | -17.2% |
| 1995 | 537,417 | -24.0% |
| 1996 | 581,466 | +8.2% |
| 1997 | 543,812 | -6.5% |
| 1998 | 557,053 | +2.4% |
| 1999 | 506,443 | -9.1% |
| 2000 | 429,384 | -15.2% |
| 2001 | 407,090 | -5.2% |
| 2002 | 452,609 | +11.2% |
| 2003 | 480,937 | +6.3% |
| 2004 | 491,069 | +2.1% |
| 2005 | 498,621 | +1.5% |
| 2006 | 508,230 | +1.9% |
| 2007 | 530,304 | +4.3% |
| 2008 | 586,020 | +10.5% |
| 2009 | 613,923 | +4.8% |
| 2010 | 615,529 | +0.3% |
| 2011 | 651,165 | +5.8% |
| 2012 | 787,358 | +20.9% |
| 2013 | 896,219 | +13.8% |
| 2014 | 916,051 | +2.2% |
| 2015 | 1.13 million | +23.2% |
| 2016 | 536,014 | -52.5% |
| 2017 | 375,608 | -29.9% |
| 2018 | 977,843 | +160.3% |
| 2019 | 974,879 | -0.3% |
| 2020 | 974,494 | -0.0% |
| 2021 | 940,228 | -3.5% |
| 2022 | 875,815 | -6.9% |
| 2023 | 833,969 | -4.8% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 833,969 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 28,200, 29.6× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 833,969 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 359,940, 2.3× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Annual population growth in South Africa changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | +160.3% | 375,608 | 977,843 |
| 2016 | -52.5% | 1.13 million | 536,014 |
| 2017 | -29.9% | 536,014 | 375,608 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 330,719 | 270,524 | 394,550 | 9 |
| 1960s | 559,971 | 425,205 | 657,392 | 10 |
| 1970s | 701,948 | 662,155 | 764,655 | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.10 million | 884,696 | 1.15 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 710,176 | 506,443 | 1.12 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 499,819 | 407,090 | 613,923 | 10 |
| 2010s | 785,937 | 375,608 | 1.13 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 906,126 | 833,969 | 974,494 | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More population data for South Africa
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.2264 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -0.7997 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.2264 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.1847 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 73,530 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.8824 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.0148 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate 0.23 (2100)
- Population density 77.75 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 5.55 million (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual population growth in South Africa?
- Annual population growth in South Africa was 833,969 in 2023, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest annual population growth recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 1.15 million in 1988.
- What is the lowest annual population growth recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 270,524 in 1951.
- How does South Africa rank for annual population growth?
- South Africa ranks 26th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is annual population growth rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 6.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Annual population growth. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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