Population aged 25-64 years (thousands), annual growth rate in South Africa
South Africa: Population aged 25-64 years (thousands), annual growth rate was 1.2 % change on previous year in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Population aged 25-64 years (thousands), annual growth rate in South Africa, 1971–2025
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in % change on previous year.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 1.2 % change on previous year for population aged 25-64 years (thousands), annual growth rate in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 31.7% on the previous year and down 60.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population aged 25-64 years (thousands), annual growth rate in South Africa peaked at 6.77 % change on previous year in 1994 and was at its lowest, -2.93 % change on previous year, in 1995.
That places South Africa 97th out of 233 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Population aged 25-64 years (thousands), annual growth rate in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % change on previous year | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 2.89 % change on previous year | — |
| 1972 | 2.97 % change on previous year | +2.7% |
| 1973 | 3.05 % change on previous year | +2.8% |
| 1974 | 3.18 % change on previous year | +4.1% |
| 1975 | 2.95 % change on previous year | -7.2% |
| 1976 | 2.93 % change on previous year | -0.5% |
| 1977 | 2.91 % change on previous year | -0.7% |
| 1978 | 3.18 % change on previous year | +9.2% |
| 1979 | 3.21 % change on previous year | +0.9% |
| 1980 | 3.2 % change on previous year | -0.3% |
| 1981 | 4.33 % change on previous year | +35.4% |
| 1982 | 4.34 % change on previous year | +0.2% |
| 1983 | 4.4 % change on previous year | +1.3% |
| 1984 | 4.49 % change on previous year | +2.1% |
| 1985 | 4.52 % change on previous year | +0.8% |
| 1986 | 4.05 % change on previous year | -10.4% |
| 1987 | 3.96 % change on previous year | -2.2% |
| 1988 | 4.05 % change on previous year | +2.2% |
| 1989 | 4.07 % change on previous year | +0.5% |
| 1990 | 4.04 % change on previous year | -0.7% |
| 1991 | 4.03 % change on previous year | -0.4% |
| 1992 | 2.58 % change on previous year | -36.1% |
| 1993 | 1.12 % change on previous year | -56.4% |
| 1994 | 6.77 % change on previous year | +502.7% |
| 1995 | -2.93 % change on previous year | -143.3% |
| 1996 | 0.4322 % change on previous year | -114.7% |
| 1997 | -1.54 % change on previous year | -456.6% |
| 1998 | 2.07 % change on previous year | -234.2% |
| 1999 | 2.05 % change on previous year | -0.7% |
| 2000 | 1.89 % change on previous year | -8.1% |
| 2001 | 1.76 % change on previous year | -6.8% |
| 2002 | 1.87 % change on previous year | +6.3% |
| 2003 | 1.97 % change on previous year | +5.3% |
| 2004 | 2.07 % change on previous year | +5.1% |
| 2005 | 1.83 % change on previous year | -11.3% |
| 2006 | 1.82 % change on previous year | -0.6% |
| 2007 | 1.98 % change on previous year | +8.5% |
| 2008 | 2.31 % change on previous year | +17.0% |
| 2009 | 2.6 % change on previous year | +12.4% |
| 2010 | 2.83 % change on previous year | +8.8% |
| 2011 | 3.02 % change on previous year | +6.6% |
| 2012 | 2.98 % change on previous year | -1.2% |
| 2013 | 3.34 % change on previous year | +12.2% |
| 2014 | 3.11 % change on previous year | -7.0% |
| 2015 | 3.02 % change on previous year | -2.9% |
| 2016 | 3.69 % change on previous year | +22.2% |
| 2017 | 0.3175 % change on previous year | -91.4% |
| 2018 | 2.98 % change on previous year | +839.7% |
| 2019 | 2.84 % change on previous year | -4.8% |
| 2020 | 2.71 % change on previous year | -4.6% |
| 2021 | 2.63 % change on previous year | -3.0% |
| 2022 | 2.34 % change on previous year | -11.1% |
| 2023 | 1.83 % change on previous year | -21.6% |
| 2024 | 1.75 % change on previous year | -4.3% |
| 2025 | 1.2 % change on previous year | -31.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 3.03 % change on previous year | 2.89 % change on previous year | 3.21 % change on previous year | 9 |
| 1980s | 4.14 % change on previous year | 3.2 % change on previous year | 4.52 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.86 % change on previous year | -2.93 % change on previous year | 6.77 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.01 % change on previous year | 1.76 % change on previous year | 2.6 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.81 % change on previous year | 0.3175 % change on previous year | 3.69 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.08 % change on previous year | 1.2 % change on previous year | 2.71 % change on previous year | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 94 Kyrgyzstan 1.27 % change on previous year compare
- 95 Cape Verde 1.27 % change on previous year compare
- 96 Cambodia 1.21 % change on previous year compare
- 98 Dominican Republic 1.19 % change on previous year compare
- 99 Israel 1.17 % change on previous year compare
- 100 Ukraine 1.16 % change on previous year compare
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 population aged 25-64 years (thousands), annual growth rate in South Africa?
- Population aged 25-64 years (thousands), annual growth rate in South Africa was 1.2 % change on previous year in 2025, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest population aged 25-64 years (thousands), annual growth rate recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 6.77 % change on previous year in 1994.
- What is the lowest population aged 25-64 years (thousands), annual growth rate recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was -2.93 % change on previous year in 1995.
- How does South Africa rank for population aged 25-64 years (thousands), annual growth rate?
- South Africa ranks 97th out of 233 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population aged 25-64 years (thousands), annual growth rate rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 60.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Population aged 25-64 years (thousands), annual growth rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 55 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
The year-on-year percentage change in Population aged 25-64 years (thousands). Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.
Computed from
- Population aged 25-64 years UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
The year-on-year percentage change in Population aged 25-64 years (thousands). Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.