Population by age group in South Africa
South Africa: Population by age group was 4.11 million people in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
4.11 million people
Change on year
up 3.8%
World rank
31st
of 236 countries
All-time high
4.11 million people
in 2023
All-time low
526,297 people
in 1953
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Population by age group in South Africa, 1950–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for population by age group in South Africa is 4.11 million people, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 74 years on record.
That represents a change of up 3.8% on the previous year and up 42.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population by age group in South Africa peaked at 4.11 million people in 2023 and was at its lowest, 526,297 people, in 1953.
That places South Africa 31st out of 236 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Population by age group in South Africa, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 530,043 people | — |
| 1951 | 527,910 people | -0.4% |
| 1952 | 526,787 people | -0.2% |
| 1953 | 526,297 people | -0.1% |
| 1954 | 526,693 people | +0.1% |
| 1955 | 528,381 people | +0.3% |
| 1956 | 531,255 people | +0.5% |
| 1957 | 535,363 people | +0.8% |
| 1958 | 540,460 people | +1.0% |
| 1959 | 547,491 people | +1.3% |
| 1960 | 557,736 people | +1.9% |
| 1961 | 571,038 people | +2.4% |
| 1962 | 587,273 people | +2.8% |
| 1963 | 606,266 people | +3.2% |
| 1964 | 627,717 people | +3.5% |
| 1965 | 651,518 people | +3.8% |
| 1966 | 677,450 people | +4.0% |
| 1967 | 705,374 people | +4.1% |
| 1968 | 734,992 people | +4.2% |
| 1969 | 765,825 people | +4.2% |
| 1970 | 797,316 people | +4.1% |
| 1971 | 828,392 people | +3.9% |
| 1972 | 859,078 people | +3.7% |
| 1973 | 890,075 people | +3.6% |
| 1974 | 921,261 people | +3.5% |
| 1975 | 952,772 people | +3.4% |
| 1976 | 984,552 people | +3.3% |
| 1977 | 1.02 million people | +3.3% |
| 1978 | 1.05 million people | +3.3% |
| 1979 | 1.08 million people | +3.2% |
| 1980 | 1.12 million people | +3.6% |
| 1981 | 1.17 million people | +4.1% |
| 1982 | 1.22 million people | +4.3% |
| 1983 | 1.27 million people | +4.5% |
| 1984 | 1.33 million people | +4.7% |
| 1985 | 1.39 million people | +4.3% |
| 1986 | 1.44 million people | +3.7% |
| 1987 | 1.49 million people | +3.4% |
| 1988 | 1.54 million people | +3.1% |
| 1989 | 1.58 million people | +2.6% |
| 1990 | 1.61 million people | +2.2% |
| 1991 | 1.65 million people | +2.2% |
| 1992 | 1.69 million people | +2.9% |
| 1993 | 1.73 million people | +2.1% |
| 1994 | 1.78 million people | +3.1% |
| 1995 | 1.87 million people | +4.8% |
| 1996 | 1.96 million people | +4.8% |
| 1997 | 2.05 million people | +4.7% |
| 1998 | 2.12 million people | +3.6% |
| 1999 | 2.18 million people | +3.0% |
| 2000 | 2.24 million people | +2.5% |
| 2001 | 2.29 million people | +2.4% |
| 2002 | 2.34 million people | +2.4% |
| 2003 | 2.40 million people | +2.4% |
| 2004 | 2.46 million people | +2.5% |
| 2005 | 2.52 million people | +2.5% |
| 2006 | 2.58 million people | +2.2% |
| 2007 | 2.63 million people | +2.0% |
| 2008 | 2.68 million people | +1.8% |
| 2009 | 2.71 million people | +1.4% |
| 2010 | 2.75 million people | +1.2% |
| 2011 | 2.78 million people | +1.1% |
| 2012 | 2.82 million people | +1.7% |
| 2013 | 2.89 million people | +2.4% |
| 2014 | 2.96 million people | +2.5% |
| 2015 | 3.04 million people | +2.8% |
| 2016 | 3.13 million people | +2.9% |
| 2017 | 3.24 million people | +3.5% |
| 2018 | 3.38 million people | +4.4% |
| 2019 | 3.54 million people | +4.6% |
| 2020 | 3.70 million people | +4.4% |
| 2021 | 3.83 million people | +3.6% |
| 2022 | 3.96 million people | +3.5% |
| 2023 | 4.11 million people | +3.8% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 4.11 million people is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 499,572 people, 8.2× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 4.11 million people is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 418,208 people, 9.8× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 532,068 people | 526,297 people | 547,491 people | 10 |
| 1960s | 648,519 people | 557,736 people | 765,825 people | 10 |
| 1970s | 938,457 people | 797,316 people | 1.08 million people | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.35 million people | 1.12 million people | 1.58 million people | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.86 million people | 1.61 million people | 2.18 million people | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.48 million people | 2.24 million people | 2.71 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.05 million people | 2.75 million people | 3.54 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.90 million people | 3.70 million people | 4.11 million people | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More population data for South Africa
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.1847 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run 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 regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.2264 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development 0.2% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 5.55 million people (2100)
- Population density 77.75 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth 0.2% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.0148 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.8824 Percent per annum (2030)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population by age group in South Africa?
- Population by age group in South Africa was 4.11 million people in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest population by age group recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 4.11 million people in 2023.
- What is the lowest population by age group recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 526,297 people in 1953.
- How does South Africa rank for population by age group?
- South Africa ranks 31st out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is population by age group rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 42.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Population by age group. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Total population, measured on 1 July of the year shown. This only includes people aged 65+.