Population aged 25-64 years (thousands) in South Africa
South Africa: Population aged 25-64 years (thousands) was 32,890 thousands in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
32,890 thousands
Change on year
up 1.2%
World rank
22nd
of 233 countries
All-time high
32,890 thousands
in 2025
All-time low
7,678 thousands
in 1970
Years of data
56
1970–2025
Population aged 25-64 years in South Africa, 1970–2025
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.
That places South Africa 22nd out of 233 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 56 years of available data.
Population aged 25-64 years (thousands) in South Africa, year by year
| Year | thousands | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 7,678 thousands | — |
| 1971 | 7,900 thousands | +2.9% |
| 1972 | 8,135 thousands | +3.0% |
| 1973 | 8,383 thousands | +3.1% |
| 1974 | 8,649 thousands | +3.2% |
| 1975 | 8,904 thousands | +2.9% |
| 1976 | 9,165 thousands | +2.9% |
| 1977 | 9,432 thousands | +2.9% |
| 1978 | 9,732 thousands | +3.2% |
| 1979 | 10,045 thousands | +3.2% |
| 1980 | 10,366 thousands | +3.2% |
| 1981 | 10,815 thousands | +4.3% |
| 1982 | 11,285 thousands | +4.3% |
| 1983 | 11,781 thousands | +4.4% |
| 1984 | 12,310 thousands | +4.5% |
| 1985 | 12,867 thousands | +4.5% |
| 1986 | 13,389 thousands | +4.1% |
| 1987 | 13,919 thousands | +4.0% |
| 1988 | 14,483 thousands | +4.1% |
| 1989 | 15,073 thousands | +4.1% |
| 1990 | 15,683 thousands | +4.0% |
| 1991 | 16,315 thousands | +4.0% |
| 1992 | 16,735 thousands | +2.6% |
| 1993 | 16,923 thousands | +1.1% |
| 1994 | 18,069 thousands | +6.8% |
| 1995 | 17,539 thousands | -2.9% |
| 1996 | 17,615 thousands | +0.4% |
| 1997 | 17,343 thousands | -1.5% |
| 1998 | 17,702 thousands | +2.1% |
| 1999 | 18,066 thousands | +2.1% |
| 2000 | 18,406 thousands | +1.9% |
| 2001 | 18,730 thousands | +1.8% |
| 2002 | 19,080 thousands | +1.9% |
| 2003 | 19,456 thousands | +2.0% |
| 2004 | 19,858 thousands | +2.1% |
| 2005 | 20,222 thousands | +1.8% |
| 2006 | 20,591 thousands | +1.8% |
| 2007 | 20,998 thousands | +2.0% |
| 2008 | 21,484 thousands | +2.3% |
| 2009 | 22,042 thousands | +2.6% |
| 2010 | 22,666 thousands | +2.8% |
| 2011 | 23,349 thousands | +3.0% |
| 2012 | 24,045 thousands | +3.0% |
| 2013 | 24,849 thousands | +3.3% |
| 2014 | 25,621 thousands | +3.1% |
| 2015 | 26,394 thousands | +3.0% |
| 2016 | 27,368 thousands | +3.7% |
| 2017 | 27,455 thousands | +0.3% |
| 2018 | 28,274 thousands | +3.0% |
| 2019 | 29,077 thousands | +2.8% |
| 2020 | 29,865 thousands | +2.7% |
| 2021 | 30,649 thousands | +2.6% |
| 2022 | 31,366 thousands | +2.3% |
| 2023 | 31,940 thousands | +1.8% |
| 2024 | 32,500 thousands | +1.8% |
| 2025 | 32,890 thousands | +1.2% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 32,890 thousands is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 3,446 thousands, 9.5× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 32,890 thousands is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 5,397 thousands, 6.1× the median. (48 countries reporting)
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
- 19 Thailand 41,037 thousands compare
- 20 United Kingdom 35,750 thousands compare
- 21 Democratic Republic of Congo 35,343 thousands compare
- 23 France 32,549 thousands compare
- 24 Italy 31,603 thousands compare
- 25 South Korea 31,028 thousands 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)
- 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 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 22nd out of 233 countries 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 · JSON — 56 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release