Comparison of world population projections in South Africa
South Africa: Comparison of world population projections was 63.21 million in 2023. ▲ Rising
Latest (2023)
63.21 million
Change on year
up 1.3%
World rank
24th
of 229 countries
All-time high
63.21 million
in 2023
All-time low
13.04 million
in 1950
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Comparison of world population projections in South Africa, 1950–2023
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2023, comparison of world population projections in South Africa stood at 63.21 million. That is the highest value across all 74 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.3% on the previous year and up 15.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, comparison of world population projections in South Africa peaked at 63.21 million in 2023 and was at its lowest, 13.04 million, in 1950.
South Africa ranks 24th of 229 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 74 years of available data.
Comparison of world population projections in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 13.04 million | — |
| 1951 | 13.31 million | +2.1% |
| 1952 | 13.60 million | +2.2% |
| 1953 | 13.89 million | +2.2% |
| 1954 | 14.20 million | +2.2% |
| 1955 | 14.53 million | +2.3% |
| 1956 | 14.88 million | +2.4% |
| 1957 | 15.24 million | +2.4% |
| 1958 | 15.62 million | +2.5% |
| 1959 | 16.02 million | +2.5% |
| 1960 | 16.44 million | +2.7% |
| 1961 | 16.91 million | +2.8% |
| 1962 | 17.42 million | +3.0% |
| 1963 | 17.95 million | +3.1% |
| 1964 | 18.51 million | +3.1% |
| 1965 | 19.09 million | +3.1% |
| 1966 | 19.69 million | +3.1% |
| 1967 | 20.31 million | +3.2% |
| 1968 | 20.96 million | +3.2% |
| 1969 | 21.61 million | +3.1% |
| 1970 | 22.28 million | +3.1% |
| 1971 | 22.94 million | +3.0% |
| 1972 | 23.61 million | +2.9% |
| 1973 | 24.29 million | +2.9% |
| 1974 | 24.99 million | +2.9% |
| 1975 | 25.69 million | +2.8% |
| 1976 | 26.40 million | +2.7% |
| 1977 | 27.12 million | +2.7% |
| 1978 | 27.87 million | +2.8% |
| 1979 | 28.63 million | +2.7% |
| 1980 | 29.52 million | +3.1% |
| 1981 | 30.54 million | +3.5% |
| 1982 | 31.62 million | +3.5% |
| 1983 | 32.74 million | +3.6% |
| 1984 | 33.89 million | +3.5% |
| 1985 | 35.04 million | +3.4% |
| 1986 | 36.18 million | +3.2% |
| 1987 | 37.33 million | +3.2% |
| 1988 | 38.48 million | +3.1% |
| 1989 | 39.63 million | +3.0% |
| 1990 | 40.75 million | +2.8% |
| 1991 | 41.69 million | +2.3% |
| 1992 | 42.44 million | +1.8% |
| 1993 | 43.30 million | +2.0% |
| 1994 | 44.00 million | +1.6% |
| 1995 | 44.54 million | +1.2% |
| 1996 | 45.12 million | +1.3% |
| 1997 | 45.67 million | +1.2% |
| 1998 | 46.22 million | +1.2% |
| 1999 | 46.73 million | +1.1% |
| 2000 | 47.16 million | +0.9% |
| 2001 | 47.57 million | +0.9% |
| 2002 | 48.02 million | +1.0% |
| 2003 | 48.50 million | +1.0% |
| 2004 | 48.99 million | +1.0% |
| 2005 | 49.49 million | +1.0% |
| 2006 | 50.00 million | +1.0% |
| 2007 | 50.53 million | +1.1% |
| 2008 | 51.11 million | +1.2% |
| 2009 | 51.73 million | +1.2% |
| 2010 | 52.34 million | +1.2% |
| 2011 | 53.00 million | +1.2% |
| 2012 | 53.78 million | +1.5% |
| 2013 | 54.68 million | +1.7% |
| 2014 | 55.59 million | +1.7% |
| 2015 | 56.72 million | +2.0% |
| 2016 | 57.26 million | +0.9% |
| 2017 | 57.64 million | +0.7% |
| 2018 | 58.61 million | +1.7% |
| 2019 | 59.59 million | +1.7% |
| 2020 | 60.56 million | +1.6% |
| 2021 | 61.50 million | +1.6% |
| 2022 | 62.38 million | +1.4% |
| 2023 | 63.21 million | +1.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 14.43 million | 13.04 million | 16.02 million | 10 |
| 1960s | 18.89 million | 16.44 million | 21.61 million | 10 |
| 1970s | 25.38 million | 22.28 million | 28.63 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 34.50 million | 29.52 million | 39.63 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 44.05 million | 40.75 million | 46.73 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 49.31 million | 47.16 million | 51.73 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 55.92 million | 52.34 million | 59.59 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 61.91 million | 60.56 million | 63.21 million | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More population data for South Africa
- 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)
- Population growth rate by level of development 0.23 (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 0.8825 % change on previous year (2030)
- Fertility and wanted fertility, annual growth rate -0.4964 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is comparison of world population projections in South Africa?
- Comparison of world population projections in South Africa was 63.21 million in 2023, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest comparison of world population projections recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 63.21 million in 2023.
- What is the lowest comparison of world population projections recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 13.04 million in 1950.
- How does South Africa rank for comparison of world population projections?
- South Africa ranks 24th out of 229 countries with data for 2023.
- Is comparison of world population projections rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 15.6%. 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 Comparison of world population projections. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 74 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).