Population aged 15-24 years (thousands) in South Africa
South Africa: Population aged 15-24 years (thousands) was 10,513 thousands in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
10,513 thousands
Change on year
up 1.0%
World rank
22nd
of 233 countries
All-time high
11,402 thousands
in 2008
All-time low
4,214 thousands
in 1970
Years of data
56
1970–2025
Population aged 15-24 years in South Africa, 1970–2025
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in thousands.
Analysis
The most recent figure for population aged 15-24 years in South Africa is 10,513 thousands, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.0% on the previous year and down 2.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population aged 15-24 years in South Africa peaked at 11,402 thousands in 2008 and was at its lowest, 4,214 thousands, in 1970.
South Africa ranks 22nd of 233 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 56 years of available data.
Population aged 15-24 years (thousands) in South Africa, year by year
| Year | thousands | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 4,214 thousands | — |
| 1971 | 4,345 thousands | +3.1% |
| 1972 | 4,468 thousands | +2.8% |
| 1973 | 4,594 thousands | +2.8% |
| 1974 | 4,716 thousands | +2.6% |
| 1975 | 4,854 thousands | +2.9% |
| 1976 | 4,998 thousands | +3.0% |
| 1977 | 5,138 thousands | +2.8% |
| 1978 | 5,295 thousands | +3.0% |
| 1979 | 5,452 thousands | +3.0% |
| 1980 | 5,608 thousands | +2.9% |
| 1981 | 5,841 thousands | +4.1% |
| 1982 | 6,076 thousands | +4.0% |
| 1983 | 6,299 thousands | +3.7% |
| 1984 | 6,500 thousands | +3.2% |
| 1985 | 6,679 thousands | +2.7% |
| 1986 | 6,892 thousands | +3.2% |
| 1987 | 7,103 thousands | +3.1% |
| 1988 | 7,300 thousands | +2.8% |
| 1989 | 7,490 thousands | +2.6% |
| 1990 | 7,676 thousands | +2.5% |
| 1991 | 7,849 thousands | +2.2% |
| 1992 | 7,902 thousands | +0.7% |
| 1993 | 8,052 thousands | +1.9% |
| 1994 | 7,835 thousands | -2.7% |
| 1995 | 8,272 thousands | +5.6% |
| 1996 | 8,526 thousands | +3.1% |
| 1997 | 8,976 thousands | +5.3% |
| 1998 | 9,196 thousands | +2.5% |
| 1999 | 9,468 thousands | +3.0% |
| 2000 | 9,751 thousands | +3.0% |
| 2001 | 10,033 thousands | +2.9% |
| 2002 | 10,326 thousands | +2.9% |
| 2003 | 10,639 thousands | +3.0% |
| 2004 | 10,880 thousands | +2.3% |
| 2005 | 11,110 thousands | +2.1% |
| 2006 | 11,263 thousands | +1.4% |
| 2007 | 11,379 thousands | +1.0% |
| 2008 | 11,402 thousands | +0.2% |
| 2009 | 11,369 thousands | -0.3% |
| 2010 | 11,248 thousands | -1.1% |
| 2011 | 11,149 thousands | -0.9% |
| 2012 | 11,021 thousands | -1.1% |
| 2013 | 10,914 thousands | -1.0% |
| 2014 | 10,818 thousands | -0.9% |
| 2015 | 10,734 thousands | -0.8% |
| 2016 | 10,744 thousands | +0.1% |
| 2017 | 10,244 thousands | -4.7% |
| 2018 | 10,230 thousands | -0.1% |
| 2019 | 10,218 thousands | -0.1% |
| 2020 | 10,241 thousands | +0.2% |
| 2021 | 10,267 thousands | +0.3% |
| 2022 | 10,318 thousands | +0.5% |
| 2023 | 10,359 thousands | +0.4% |
| 2024 | 10,411 thousands | +0.5% |
| 2025 | 10,513 thousands | +1.0% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 10,513 thousands is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 997.95 thousands, 10.5× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 10,513 thousands is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 3,007 thousands, 3.5× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 4,807 thousands | 4,214 thousands | 5,452 thousands | 10 |
| 1980s | 6,579 thousands | 5,608 thousands | 7,490 thousands | 10 |
| 1990s | 8,375 thousands | 7,676 thousands | 9,468 thousands | 10 |
| 2000s | 10,815 thousands | 9,751 thousands | 11,402 thousands | 10 |
| 2010s | 10,732 thousands | 10,218 thousands | 11,248 thousands | 10 |
| 2020s | 10,352 thousands | 10,241 thousands | 10,513 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 15-24 years in South Africa?
- Population aged 15-24 years in South Africa was 10,513 thousands in 2025, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest population aged 15-24 years recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 11,402 thousands in 2008.
- What is the lowest population aged 15-24 years recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 4,214 thousands in 1970.
- How does South Africa rank for population aged 15-24 years?
- South Africa ranks 22nd out of 233 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population aged 15-24 years rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.1%. 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 15-24 years (thousands). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release