Population aged 14 years or younger (thousands) in South Africa
South Africa: Population aged 14 years or younger (thousands) was 16,612 thousands in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
16,612 thousands
Change on year
up 0.5%
World rank
26th
of 233 countries
All-time high
17,054 thousands
in 1997
All-time low
9,273 thousands
in 1970
Years of data
56
1970–2025
Population aged 14 years or younger in South Africa, 1970–2025
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in thousands.
Analysis
The most recent figure for population aged 14 years or younger in South Africa is 16,612 thousands, measured in 2025.
The figure is up 0.5% on the previous year and up 4.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population aged 14 years or younger in South Africa peaked at 17,054 thousands in 1997 and was at its lowest, 9,273 thousands, in 1970.
That places South Africa 26th out of 233 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 56 years of available data.
Population aged 14 years or younger (thousands) in South Africa, year by year
| Year | thousands | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 9,273 thousands | — |
| 1971 | 9,555 thousands | +3.0% |
| 1972 | 9,824 thousands | +2.8% |
| 1973 | 10,096 thousands | +2.8% |
| 1974 | 10,370 thousands | +2.7% |
| 1975 | 10,642 thousands | +2.6% |
| 1976 | 10,912 thousands | +2.5% |
| 1977 | 11,176 thousands | +2.4% |
| 1978 | 11,431 thousands | +2.3% |
| 1979 | 11,684 thousands | +2.2% |
| 1980 | 11,945 thousands | +2.2% |
| 1981 | 12,216 thousands | +2.3% |
| 1982 | 12,511 thousands | +2.4% |
| 1983 | 12,840 thousands | +2.6% |
| 1984 | 13,200 thousands | +2.8% |
| 1985 | 13,562 thousands | +2.7% |
| 1986 | 13,914 thousands | +2.6% |
| 1987 | 14,261 thousands | +2.5% |
| 1988 | 14,606 thousands | +2.4% |
| 1989 | 14,938 thousands | +2.3% |
| 1990 | 15,245 thousands | +2.1% |
| 1991 | 15,503 thousands | +1.7% |
| 1992 | 15,781 thousands | +1.8% |
| 1993 | 16,109 thousands | +2.1% |
| 1994 | 16,152 thousands | +0.3% |
| 1995 | 16,579 thousands | +2.6% |
| 1996 | 16,820 thousands | +1.5% |
| 1997 | 17,054 thousands | +1.4% |
| 1998 | 16,968 thousands | -0.5% |
| 1999 | 16,806 thousands | -1.0% |
| 2000 | 16,596 thousands | -1.3% |
| 2001 | 16,326 thousands | -1.6% |
| 2002 | 16,055 thousands | -1.7% |
| 2003 | 15,792 thousands | -1.6% |
| 2004 | 15,573 thousands | -1.4% |
| 2005 | 15,418 thousands | -1.0% |
| 2006 | 15,333 thousands | -0.6% |
| 2007 | 15,279 thousands | -0.4% |
| 2008 | 15,260 thousands | -0.1% |
| 2009 | 15,320 thousands | +0.4% |
| 2010 | 15,382 thousands | +0.4% |
| 2011 | 15,400 thousands | +0.1% |
| 2012 | 15,470 thousands | +0.5% |
| 2013 | 15,619 thousands | +1.0% |
| 2014 | 15,754 thousands | +0.9% |
| 2015 | 15,940 thousands | +1.2% |
| 2016 | 16,175 thousands | +1.5% |
| 2017 | 16,265 thousands | +0.6% |
| 2018 | 16,314 thousands | +0.3% |
| 2019 | 16,341 thousands | +0.2% |
| 2020 | 16,349 thousands | +0.1% |
| 2021 | 16,354 thousands | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 16,383 thousands | +0.2% |
| 2023 | 16,455 thousands | +0.4% |
| 2024 | 16,523 thousands | +0.4% |
| 2025 | 16,612 thousands | +0.5% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 16,612 thousands is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1,508 thousands, 11.0× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 16,612 thousands is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 6,195 thousands, 2.7× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 10,496 thousands | 9,273 thousands | 11,684 thousands | 10 |
| 1980s | 13,399 thousands | 11,945 thousands | 14,938 thousands | 10 |
| 1990s | 16,302 thousands | 15,245 thousands | 17,054 thousands | 10 |
| 2000s | 15,695 thousands | 15,260 thousands | 16,596 thousands | 10 |
| 2010s | 15,866 thousands | 15,382 thousands | 16,341 thousands | 10 |
| 2020s | 16,446 thousands | 16,349 thousands | 16,612 thousands | 6 |
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)
- World population growth 0.2% (2100)
- Population density 77.75 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 5.55 million people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population aged 14 years or younger in South Africa?
- Population aged 14 years or younger in South Africa was 16,612 thousands in 2025, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest population aged 14 years or younger recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 17,054 thousands in 1997.
- What is the lowest population aged 14 years or younger recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 9,273 thousands in 1970.
- How does South Africa rank for population aged 14 years or younger?
- South Africa ranks 26th out of 233 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population aged 14 years or younger rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 4.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Population aged 14 years or younger (thousands). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 56 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release