Population by income level in South Africa
South Africa: Population by income level was 64.75 million in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
64.75 million
Change on year
up 1.2%
World rank
24th
of 215 countries
All-time high
64.75 million
in 2025
All-time low
16.44 million
in 1960
Years of data
66
1960–2025
Population by income level in South Africa, 1960–2025
Source: United Nations Population Division, national statistical offices, and Eurostat, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 64.75 million for population by income level in 2025. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.2% on the previous year and up 14.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population by income level in South Africa peaked at 64.75 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 16.44 million, in 1960.
That places South Africa 24th out of 215 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 66 years of available data.
Population by income level in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 16.44 million | — |
| 1961 | 16.91 million | +2.8% |
| 1962 | 17.42 million | +3.0% |
| 1963 | 17.95 million | +3.1% |
| 1964 | 18.51 million | +3.1% |
| 1965 | 19.09 million | +3.1% |
| 1966 | 19.69 million | +3.1% |
| 1967 | 20.31 million | +3.2% |
| 1968 | 20.96 million | +3.2% |
| 1969 | 21.61 million | +3.1% |
| 1970 | 22.28 million | +3.1% |
| 1971 | 22.94 million | +3.0% |
| 1972 | 23.61 million | +2.9% |
| 1973 | 24.29 million | +2.9% |
| 1974 | 24.99 million | +2.9% |
| 1975 | 25.69 million | +2.8% |
| 1976 | 26.40 million | +2.7% |
| 1977 | 27.12 million | +2.7% |
| 1978 | 27.87 million | +2.8% |
| 1979 | 28.63 million | +2.7% |
| 1980 | 29.52 million | +3.1% |
| 1981 | 30.54 million | +3.5% |
| 1982 | 31.62 million | +3.5% |
| 1983 | 32.74 million | +3.6% |
| 1984 | 33.89 million | +3.5% |
| 1985 | 35.04 million | +3.4% |
| 1986 | 36.18 million | +3.2% |
| 1987 | 37.33 million | +3.2% |
| 1988 | 38.48 million | +3.1% |
| 1989 | 39.63 million | +3.0% |
| 1990 | 40.75 million | +2.8% |
| 1991 | 41.69 million | +2.3% |
| 1992 | 42.44 million | +1.8% |
| 1993 | 43.30 million | +2.0% |
| 1994 | 44.00 million | +1.6% |
| 1995 | 44.54 million | +1.2% |
| 1996 | 45.12 million | +1.3% |
| 1997 | 45.67 million | +1.2% |
| 1998 | 46.22 million | +1.2% |
| 1999 | 46.73 million | +1.1% |
| 2000 | 47.16 million | +0.9% |
| 2001 | 47.57 million | +0.9% |
| 2002 | 48.02 million | +1.0% |
| 2003 | 48.50 million | +1.0% |
| 2004 | 48.99 million | +1.0% |
| 2005 | 49.49 million | +1.0% |
| 2006 | 50.00 million | +1.0% |
| 2007 | 50.53 million | +1.1% |
| 2008 | 51.11 million | +1.2% |
| 2009 | 51.73 million | +1.2% |
| 2010 | 52.34 million | +1.2% |
| 2011 | 53.00 million | +1.2% |
| 2012 | 53.78 million | +1.5% |
| 2013 | 54.68 million | +1.7% |
| 2014 | 55.59 million | +1.7% |
| 2015 | 56.72 million | +2.0% |
| 2016 | 57.26 million | +0.9% |
| 2017 | 57.64 million | +0.7% |
| 2018 | 58.61 million | +1.7% |
| 2019 | 59.59 million | +1.7% |
| 2020 | 60.56 million | +1.6% |
| 2021 | 61.50 million | +1.6% |
| 2022 | 62.38 million | +1.4% |
| 2023 | 63.21 million | +1.3% |
| 2024 | 64.01 million | +1.3% |
| 2025 | 64.75 million | +1.2% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 64.75 million is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 6.78 million, 9.5× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 64.75 million is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 14.96 million, 4.3× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 18.89 million | 16.44 million | 21.61 million | 10 |
| 1970s | 25.38 million | 22.28 million | 28.63 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 34.50 million | 29.52 million | 39.63 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 44.05 million | 40.75 million | 46.73 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 49.31 million | 47.16 million | 51.73 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 55.92 million | 52.34 million | 59.59 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 62.74 million | 60.56 million | 64.75 million | 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 by income level in South Africa?
- Population by income level in South Africa was 64.75 million in 2025, according to United Nations Population Division, national statistical offices, and Eurostat, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest population by income level recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 64.75 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest population by income level recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 16.44 million in 1960.
- How does South Africa rank for population by income level?
- South Africa ranks 24th out of 215 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population by income level rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 14.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Population Division, national statistical offices, and Eurostat, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Population by income level. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Total population, differentiated by World Bank income level.