Historical population data in South Africa
South Africa: Historical population data was 63.10 million Persons in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
63.10 million Persons
Change on year
up 1.2%
World rank
13th
of 43 countries
All-time high
63.10 million Persons
in 2025
All-time low
13.04 million Persons
in 1950
Years of data
76
1950–2025
Historical population data in South Africa, 1950–2025
Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Measured in Persons.
Analysis
In 2025, historical population data in South Africa stood at 63.10 million Persons. That is the highest value across all 76 years on record.
That represents a change of up 1.2% on the previous year and up 13.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, historical population data in South Africa peaked at 63.10 million Persons in 2025 and was at its lowest, 13.04 million Persons, in 1950.
That places South Africa 13th out of 43 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 76 years of available data.
Historical population data in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Persons | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 13.04 million Persons | — |
| 1951 | 13.31 million Persons | +2.1% |
| 1952 | 13.60 million Persons | +2.2% |
| 1953 | 13.89 million Persons | +2.2% |
| 1954 | 14.20 million Persons | +2.2% |
| 1955 | 14.53 million Persons | +2.3% |
| 1956 | 14.88 million Persons | +2.4% |
| 1957 | 15.24 million Persons | +2.4% |
| 1958 | 15.62 million Persons | +2.5% |
| 1959 | 16.02 million Persons | +2.5% |
| 1960 | 16.44 million Persons | +2.7% |
| 1961 | 16.91 million Persons | +2.8% |
| 1962 | 17.42 million Persons | +3.0% |
| 1963 | 17.95 million Persons | +3.1% |
| 1964 | 18.51 million Persons | +3.1% |
| 1965 | 19.09 million Persons | +3.1% |
| 1966 | 19.69 million Persons | +3.1% |
| 1967 | 20.31 million Persons | +3.2% |
| 1968 | 20.96 million Persons | +3.2% |
| 1969 | 21.61 million Persons | +3.1% |
| 1970 | 22.28 million Persons | +3.1% |
| 1971 | 22.94 million Persons | +3.0% |
| 1972 | 23.61 million Persons | +2.9% |
| 1973 | 24.29 million Persons | +2.9% |
| 1974 | 24.99 million Persons | +2.9% |
| 1975 | 25.69 million Persons | +2.8% |
| 1976 | 26.40 million Persons | +2.7% |
| 1977 | 27.12 million Persons | +2.7% |
| 1978 | 27.87 million Persons | +2.8% |
| 1979 | 28.63 million Persons | +2.7% |
| 1980 | 29.52 million Persons | +3.1% |
| 1981 | 30.54 million Persons | +3.5% |
| 1982 | 31.62 million Persons | +3.5% |
| 1983 | 32.74 million Persons | +3.6% |
| 1984 | 33.89 million Persons | +3.5% |
| 1985 | 35.04 million Persons | +3.4% |
| 1986 | 36.18 million Persons | +3.2% |
| 1987 | 37.33 million Persons | +3.2% |
| 1988 | 38.48 million Persons | +3.1% |
| 1989 | 39.63 million Persons | +3.0% |
| 1990 | 40.75 million Persons | +2.8% |
| 1991 | 41.69 million Persons | +2.3% |
| 1992 | 42.44 million Persons | +1.8% |
| 1993 | 43.30 million Persons | +2.0% |
| 1994 | 44.00 million Persons | +1.6% |
| 1995 | 44.54 million Persons | +1.2% |
| 1996 | 45.12 million Persons | +1.3% |
| 1997 | 45.67 million Persons | +1.2% |
| 1998 | 46.22 million Persons | +1.2% |
| 1999 | 46.73 million Persons | +1.1% |
| 2000 | 47.16 million Persons | +0.9% |
| 2001 | 47.57 million Persons | +0.9% |
| 2002 | 46.57 million Persons | -2.1% |
| 2003 | 47.01 million Persons | +0.9% |
| 2004 | 47.50 million Persons | +1.1% |
| 2005 | 48.06 million Persons | +1.2% |
| 2006 | 48.64 million Persons | +1.2% |
| 2007 | 49.26 million Persons | +1.3% |
| 2008 | 50.07 million Persons | +1.6% |
| 2009 | 50.78 million Persons | +1.4% |
| 2010 | 51.51 million Persons | +1.4% |
| 2011 | 52.29 million Persons | +1.5% |
| 2012 | 53.13 million Persons | +1.6% |
| 2013 | 53.96 million Persons | +1.6% |
| 2014 | 54.84 million Persons | +1.6% |
| 2015 | 55.67 million Persons | +1.5% |
| 2016 | 56.44 million Persons | +1.4% |
| 2017 | 57.21 million Persons | +1.4% |
| 2018 | 58.04 million Persons | +1.4% |
| 2019 | 58.89 million Persons | +1.5% |
| 2020 | 59.69 million Persons | +1.4% |
| 2021 | 60.23 million Persons | +0.9% |
| 2022 | 60.87 million Persons | +1.0% |
| 2023 | 61.58 million Persons | +1.2% |
| 2024 | 62.33 million Persons | +1.2% |
| 2025 | 63.10 million Persons | +1.2% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 63.10 million Persons is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 133.37 million Persons, 47% of the median. (7 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 14.43 million Persons | 13.04 million Persons | 16.02 million Persons | 10 |
| 1960s | 18.89 million Persons | 16.44 million Persons | 21.61 million Persons | 10 |
| 1970s | 25.38 million Persons | 22.28 million Persons | 28.63 million Persons | 10 |
| 1980s | 34.50 million Persons | 29.52 million Persons | 39.63 million Persons | 10 |
| 1990s | 44.05 million Persons | 40.75 million Persons | 46.73 million Persons | 10 |
| 2000s | 48.26 million Persons | 46.57 million Persons | 50.78 million Persons | 10 |
| 2010s | 55.20 million Persons | 51.51 million Persons | 58.89 million Persons | 10 |
| 2020s | 61.30 million Persons | 59.69 million Persons | 63.10 million Persons | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More population data for South Africa
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 73,530 Persons (2050)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.1847 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run 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 regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.2264 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development 0.2% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 5.55 million people (2100)
- Population density 77.75 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth 0.2% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.0148 % change on previous year (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is historical population data in South Africa?
- Historical population data in South Africa was 63.10 million Persons in 2025, according to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
- What is the highest historical population data recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 63.10 million Persons in 2025.
- What is the lowest historical population data recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 13.04 million Persons in 1950.
- How does South Africa rank for historical population data?
- South Africa ranks 13th out of 43 countries with data for 2025.
- Is historical population data rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 13.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, published as part of Historical population data. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
This dataset presents annual population data from 1961 by sex and five year age groups as well as the share of children, youth, the elderly, old-age and total dependency ratios. The data is available for all member countries as well as for the EU27 and G20 countries, Argentina, Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa and the World total. The data refer to mid-year estimates of the population. See country details in Historical population metadata.