Population growth rate with and without migration in South Africa
South Africa: Population growth rate with and without migration was 1.31 in 2023. ▼ Falling
Population growth rate with and without migration in South Africa, 1950–2023
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for population growth rate with and without migration in South Africa is 1.31, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.0% on the previous year and down 18.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population growth rate with and without migration in South Africa peaked at 3.5 in 1983 and was at its lowest, -0.415, in 2016.
South Africa ranks 92nd of 236 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 74 years of available data.
Population growth rate with and without migration in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 2.01 | — |
| 1951 | 2.1 | +4.7% |
| 1952 | 2.16 | +2.8% |
| 1953 | 2.17 | +0.4% |
| 1954 | 2.26 | +4.1% |
| 1955 | 2.33 | +3.2% |
| 1956 | 2.39 | +2.7% |
| 1957 | 2.44 | +2.0% |
| 1958 | 2.43 | -0.7% |
| 1959 | 2.56 | +5.6% |
| 1960 | 2.68 | +4.5% |
| 1961 | 2.93 | +9.5% |
| 1962 | 3.02 | +2.9% |
| 1963 | 3.04 | +0.9% |
| 1964 | 3.06 | +0.6% |
| 1965 | 3.09 | +0.8% |
| 1966 | 3.11 | +0.8% |
| 1967 | 3.13 | +0.6% |
| 1968 | 3.1 | -0.8% |
| 1969 | 3.07 | -1.1% |
| 1970 | 2.99 | -2.6% |
| 1971 | 2.87 | -4.2% |
| 1972 | 2.87 | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 2.85 | -0.6% |
| 1974 | 2.79 | -2.2% |
| 1975 | 2.75 | -1.4% |
| 1976 | 2.66 | -3.3% |
| 1977 | 2.75 | +3.2% |
| 1978 | 2.71 | -1.2% |
| 1979 | 2.7 | -0.6% |
| 1980 | 3.38 | +25.1% |
| 1981 | 3.43 | +1.6% |
| 1982 | 3.48 | +1.5% |
| 1983 | 3.5 | +0.6% |
| 1984 | 3.42 | -2.3% |
| 1985 | 3.25 | -5.0% |
| 1986 | 3.15 | -3.2% |
| 1987 | 3.09 | -1.8% |
| 1988 | 3 | -2.8% |
| 1989 | 2.88 | -4.2% |
| 1990 | 2.69 | -6.6% |
| 1991 | 1.89 | -29.7% |
| 1992 | 1.7 | -9.9% |
| 1993 | 2.27 | +33.4% |
| 1994 | 0.977 | -57.0% |
| 1995 | 1.45 | +48.2% |
| 1996 | 1.15 | -20.7% |
| 1997 | 1.25 | +8.7% |
| 1998 | 1.18 | -5.6% |
| 1999 | 1 | -14.9% |
| 2000 | 0.827 | -17.5% |
| 2001 | 0.891 | +7.7% |
| 2002 | 1 | +12.5% |
| 2003 | 0.991 | -1.1% |
| 2004 | 1.02 | +3.3% |
| 2005 | 1 | -2.1% |
| 2006 | 1.04 | +4.0% |
| 2007 | 1.07 | +2.5% |
| 2008 | 1.24 | +15.8% |
| 2009 | 1.15 | -6.9% |
| 2010 | 1.21 | +5.4% |
| 2011 | 1.26 | +3.6% |
| 2012 | 1.69 | +34.2% |
| 2013 | 1.62 | -4.1% |
| 2014 | 1.7 | +5.3% |
| 2015 | 2.31 | +35.5% |
| 2016 | -0.415 | -118.0% |
| 2017 | 1.72 | -513.5% |
| 2018 | 1.65 | -3.9% |
| 2019 | 1.65 | +0.1% |
| 2020 | 1.59 | -3.3% |
| 2021 | 1.49 | -6.8% |
| 2022 | 1.34 | -9.8% |
| 2023 | 1.31 | -2.0% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 1.31 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 0.5505, 2.4× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 1.31 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 2.35, 56% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Population growth rate with and without migration in South Africa changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | +513.5% | -0.415 | 1.72 |
| 2016 | -118.0% | 2.31 | -0.415 |
| 1994 | -57.0% | 2.27 | 0.977 |
| 1995 | +48.2% | 0.977 | 1.45 |
| 2015 | +35.5% | 1.7 | 2.31 |
| 2012 | +34.2% | 1.26 | 1.69 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 2.28 | 2.01 | 2.56 | 10 |
| 1960s | 3.02 | 2.68 | 3.13 | 10 |
| 1970s | 2.79 | 2.66 | 2.99 | 10 |
| 1980s | 3.26 | 2.88 | 3.5 | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.56 | 0.977 | 2.69 | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.02 | 0.827 | 1.24 | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.44 | -0.415 | 2.31 | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.43 | 1.31 | 1.59 | 4 |
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)
- 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 growth rate with and without migration in South Africa?
- Population growth rate with and without migration in South Africa was 1.31 in 2023, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest population growth rate with and without migration recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 3.5 in 1983.
- What is the lowest population growth rate with and without migration recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was -0.415 in 2016.
- How does South Africa rank for population growth rate with and without migration?
- South Africa ranks 92nd out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is population growth rate with and without migration rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 18.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Population growth rate with and without migration. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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