Population aged 25-64 years in South Africa
South Africa: Population aged 25-64 years was 32,890 thousands in 2025. β² Rising
Population aged 25-64 years in South Africa, 1970β2025
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in thousands.
Analysis
The most recent figure for population aged 25-64 years in South Africa is 32,890 thousands, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 56 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.2% on the previous year and up 24.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population aged 25-64 years in South Africa peaked at 32,890 thousands in 2025 and was at its lowest, 7,678 thousands, in 1970.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 56 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 8,802 thousands | 7,678 thousands | 10,045 thousands | 10 |
| 1980s | 12,629 thousands | 10,366 thousands | 15,073 thousands | 10 |
| 1990s | 17,199 thousands | 15,683 thousands | 18,069 thousands | 10 |
| 2000s | 20,087 thousands | 18,406 thousands | 22,042 thousands | 10 |
| 2010s | 25,910 thousands | 22,666 thousands | 29,077 thousands | 10 |
| 2020s | 31,535 thousands | 29,865 thousands | 32,890 thousands | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More population data for South Africa
- Population growth rate by level of development 0.23 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 5.55 million (2100)
- Population density 77.75 (2100)
- Population growth rate 0.23 (2100)
- Fertility and wanted fertility 2.21 (2024)
- Refugee population by country or territory of asylum 71,171 (2024)
- Fertility vs unmet contraception 2.21 (2024)
- Fertility vs contraception 2.21 (2024)
- Natural population growth 0.9536 (2023)
- Fertility rate with projections 2.22 (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population aged 25-64 years in South Africa?
- Population aged 25-64 years in South Africa was 32,890 thousands in 2025, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest population aged 25-64 years recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 32,890 thousands in 2025.
- What is the lowest population aged 25-64 years recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 7,678 thousands in 1970.
- How does South Africa rank for population aged 25-64 years?
- South Africa ranks 1st out of 3 groups with data for 2025.
- Is population aged 25-64 years rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 24.6%. 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 25-64 years (thousands). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV Β· JSON β 56 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release