Population in South Africa
South Africa: Population was 63.21 million people in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
63.21 million people
Change on year
up 1.3%
World rank
25th
of 239 countries
All-time high
63.21 million people
in 2023
All-time low
258,000 people
in 1000
Years of data
241
1000–2023
Population in South Africa, 1000–2023
Source: HYDE (2023); Gapminder (2022); UN WPP (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for population in South Africa is 63.21 million people, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 241 years on record.
That represents a change of up 1.3% on the previous year and up 15.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population in South Africa peaked at 63.21 million people in 2023 and was at its lowest, 258,000 people, in 1000.
South Africa ranks 25th of 239 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Population in South Africa, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1000 | 258,000 people | — |
| 1100 | 309,600 people | +20.0% |
| 1200 | 361,200 people | +16.7% |
| 1300 | 412,800 people | +14.3% |
| 1400 | 464,400 people | +12.5% |
| 1500 | 516,000 people | +11.1% |
| 1600 | 602,000 people | +16.7% |
| 1700 | 860,000 people | +42.9% |
| 1710 | 843,752 people | -1.9% |
| 1720 | 827,505 people | -1.9% |
| 1730 | 811,258 people | -2.0% |
| 1740 | 795,011 people | -2.0% |
| 1750 | 778,764 people | -2.0% |
| 1760 | 762,517 people | -2.1% |
| 1770 | 746,270 people | -2.1% |
| 1780 | 730,023 people | -2.2% |
| 1790 | 713,776 people | -2.2% |
| 1800 | 1.45 million people | +102.9% |
| 1801 | 1.45 million people | +0.4% |
| 1802 | 1.46 million people | +0.4% |
| 1803 | 1.46 million people | +0.4% |
| 1804 | 1.47 million people | +0.4% |
| 1805 | 1.47 million people | +0.4% |
| 1806 | 1.48 million people | +0.4% |
| 1807 | 1.49 million people | +0.4% |
| 1808 | 1.49 million people | +0.4% |
| 1809 | 1.50 million people | +0.4% |
| 1810 | 1.50 million people | +0.4% |
| 1811 | 1.51 million people | +0.4% |
| 1812 | 1.51 million people | +0.4% |
| 1813 | 1.52 million people | +0.5% |
| 1814 | 1.53 million people | +0.5% |
| 1815 | 1.54 million people | +0.5% |
| 1816 | 1.55 million people | +0.6% |
| 1817 | 1.55 million people | +0.6% |
| 1818 | 1.56 million people | +0.6% |
| 1819 | 1.57 million people | +0.6% |
| 1820 | 1.58 million people | +0.7% |
| 1821 | 1.60 million people | +1.1% |
| 1822 | 1.62 million people | +1.1% |
| 1823 | 1.66 million people | +2.2% |
| 1824 | 1.69 million people | +2.2% |
| 1825 | 1.73 million people | +2.2% |
| 1826 | 1.77 million people | +2.2% |
| 1827 | 1.81 million people | +2.2% |
| 1828 | 1.85 million people | +2.2% |
| 1829 | 1.89 million people | +2.2% |
| 1830 | 1.93 million people | +2.2% |
| 1831 | 1.98 million people | +2.2% |
| 1832 | 2.02 million people | +2.2% |
| 1833 | 2.07 million people | +2.2% |
| 1834 | 2.11 million people | +2.2% |
| 1835 | 2.16 million people | +2.2% |
| 1836 | 2.21 million people | +2.2% |
| 1837 | 2.26 million people | +2.2% |
| 1838 | 2.31 million people | +2.2% |
| 1839 | 2.36 million people | +2.2% |
| 1840 | 2.41 million people | +2.2% |
| 1841 | 2.47 million people | +2.2% |
| 1842 | 2.52 million people | +2.2% |
| 1843 | 2.58 million people | +2.2% |
| 1844 | 2.64 million people | +2.2% |
| 1845 | 2.69 million people | +2.2% |
| 1846 | 2.75 million people | +2.2% |
| 1847 | 2.82 million people | +2.2% |
| 1848 | 2.88 million people | +2.2% |
| 1849 | 2.94 million people | +2.0% |
| 1850 | 2.99 million people | +1.7% |
| 1851 | 3.03 million people | +1.6% |
| 1852 | 3.07 million people | +1.3% |
| 1853 | 3.11 million people | +1.1% |
| 1854 | 3.14 million people | +1.1% |
| 1855 | 3.17 million people | +1.1% |
| 1856 | 3.21 million people | +1.1% |
| 1857 | 3.24 million people | +1.1% |
| 1858 | 3.28 million people | +1.1% |
| 1859 | 3.31 million people | +1.1% |
| 1860 | 3.35 million people | +1.1% |
| 1861 | 3.39 million people | +1.1% |
| 1862 | 3.42 million people | +1.1% |
| 1863 | 3.46 million people | +1.1% |
| 1864 | 3.50 million people | +1.1% |
| 1865 | 3.53 million people | +1.1% |
| 1866 | 3.57 million people | +1.1% |
| 1867 | 3.61 million people | +1.1% |
| 1868 | 3.65 million people | +1.1% |
| 1869 | 3.69 million people | +1.1% |
| 1870 | 3.73 million people | +1.1% |
| 1871 | 3.77 million people | +1.1% |
| 1872 | 3.81 million people | +1.1% |
| 1873 | 3.85 million people | +1.1% |
| 1874 | 3.89 million people | +1.1% |
| 1875 | 3.93 million people | +1.1% |
| 1876 | 3.98 million people | +1.1% |
| 1877 | 4.02 million people | +1.1% |
| 1878 | 4.06 million people | +1.1% |
| 1879 | 4.11 million people | +1.1% |
| 1880 | 4.15 million people | +1.1% |
| 1881 | 4.20 million people | +1.1% |
| 1882 | 4.24 million people | +1.1% |
| 1883 | 4.29 million people | +1.1% |
| 1884 | 4.33 million people | +1.1% |
| 1885 | 4.38 million people | +1.1% |
| 1886 | 4.43 million people | +1.1% |
| 1887 | 4.47 million people | +1.1% |
| 1888 | 4.52 million people | +1.1% |
| 1889 | 4.57 million people | +1.1% |
| 1890 | 4.62 million people | +1.1% |
| 1891 | 4.67 million people | +1.1% |
| 1892 | 4.72 million people | +1.1% |
| 1893 | 4.77 million people | +1.1% |
| 1894 | 4.82 million people | +1.1% |
| 1895 | 4.88 million people | +1.1% |
| 1896 | 4.93 million people | +1.1% |
| 1897 | 4.98 million people | +1.1% |
| 1898 | 5.03 million people | +1.1% |
| 1899 | 5.10 million people | +1.2% |
| 1900 | 5.16 million people | +1.3% |
| 1901 | 5.24 million people | +1.5% |
| 1902 | 5.32 million people | +1.6% |
| 1903 | 5.41 million people | +1.7% |
| 1904 | 5.51 million people | +1.7% |
| 1905 | 5.60 million people | +1.7% |
| 1906 | 5.70 million people | +1.7% |
| 1907 | 5.79 million people | +1.7% |
| 1908 | 5.89 million people | +1.7% |
| 1909 | 5.99 million people | +1.7% |
| 1910 | 6.09 million people | +1.7% |
| 1911 | 6.19 million people | +1.7% |
| 1912 | 6.30 million people | +1.6% |
| 1913 | 6.40 million people | +1.6% |
| 1914 | 6.50 million people | +1.6% |
| 1915 | 6.61 million people | +1.6% |
| 1916 | 6.71 million people | +1.6% |
| 1917 | 6.82 million people | +1.6% |
| 1918 | 6.93 million people | +1.6% |
| 1919 | 7.04 million people | +1.7% |
| 1920 | 7.17 million people | +1.8% |
| 1921 | 7.30 million people | +1.9% |
| 1922 | 7.45 million people | +2.0% |
| 1923 | 7.61 million people | +2.1% |
| 1924 | 7.77 million people | +2.1% |
| 1925 | 7.93 million people | +2.1% |
| 1926 | 8.10 million people | +2.1% |
| 1927 | 8.27 million people | +2.1% |
| 1928 | 8.44 million people | +2.1% |
| 1929 | 8.62 million people | +2.1% |
| 1930 | 8.79 million people | +2.1% |
| 1931 | 8.97 million people | +2.1% |
| 1932 | 9.16 million people | +2.0% |
| 1933 | 9.34 million people | +2.0% |
| 1934 | 9.53 million people | +2.0% |
| 1935 | 9.72 million people | +2.0% |
| 1936 | 9.92 million people | +2.0% |
| 1937 | 10.12 million people | +2.0% |
| 1938 | 10.32 million people | +2.0% |
| 1939 | 10.53 million people | +2.0% |
| 1940 | 10.74 million people | +2.0% |
| 1941 | 10.95 million people | +2.0% |
| 1942 | 11.16 million people | +1.9% |
| 1943 | 11.37 million people | +1.9% |
| 1944 | 11.59 million people | +1.9% |
| 1945 | 11.81 million people | +1.9% |
| 1946 | 12.04 million people | +1.9% |
| 1947 | 12.27 million people | +1.9% |
| 1948 | 12.51 million people | +1.9% |
| 1949 | 12.76 million people | +2.1% |
| 1950 | 13.04 million people | +2.1% |
| 1951 | 13.31 million people | +2.1% |
| 1952 | 13.60 million people | +2.2% |
| 1953 | 13.89 million people | +2.2% |
| 1954 | 14.20 million people | +2.2% |
| 1955 | 14.53 million people | +2.3% |
| 1956 | 14.88 million people | +2.4% |
| 1957 | 15.24 million people | +2.4% |
| 1958 | 15.62 million people | +2.5% |
| 1959 | 16.02 million people | +2.5% |
| 1960 | 16.44 million people | +2.7% |
| 1961 | 16.91 million people | +2.8% |
| 1962 | 17.42 million people | +3.0% |
| 1963 | 17.95 million people | +3.1% |
| 1964 | 18.51 million people | +3.1% |
| 1965 | 19.09 million people | +3.1% |
| 1966 | 19.69 million people | +3.1% |
| 1967 | 20.31 million people | +3.2% |
| 1968 | 20.96 million people | +3.2% |
| 1969 | 21.61 million people | +3.1% |
| 1970 | 22.28 million people | +3.1% |
| 1971 | 22.94 million people | +3.0% |
| 1972 | 23.61 million people | +2.9% |
| 1973 | 24.29 million people | +2.9% |
| 1974 | 24.99 million people | +2.9% |
| 1975 | 25.69 million people | +2.8% |
| 1976 | 26.40 million people | +2.7% |
| 1977 | 27.12 million people | +2.7% |
| 1978 | 27.87 million people | +2.8% |
| 1979 | 28.63 million people | +2.7% |
| 1980 | 29.52 million people | +3.1% |
| 1981 | 30.54 million people | +3.5% |
| 1982 | 31.62 million people | +3.5% |
| 1983 | 32.74 million people | +3.6% |
| 1984 | 33.89 million people | +3.5% |
| 1985 | 35.04 million people | +3.4% |
| 1986 | 36.18 million people | +3.2% |
| 1987 | 37.33 million people | +3.2% |
| 1988 | 38.48 million people | +3.1% |
| 1989 | 39.63 million people | +3.0% |
| 1990 | 40.75 million people | +2.8% |
| 1991 | 41.69 million people | +2.3% |
| 1992 | 42.44 million people | +1.8% |
| 1993 | 43.30 million people | +2.0% |
| 1994 | 44.00 million people | +1.6% |
| 1995 | 44.54 million people | +1.2% |
| 1996 | 45.12 million people | +1.3% |
| 1997 | 45.67 million people | +1.2% |
| 1998 | 46.22 million people | +1.2% |
| 1999 | 46.73 million people | +1.1% |
| 2000 | 47.16 million people | +0.9% |
| 2001 | 47.57 million people | +0.9% |
| 2002 | 48.02 million people | +1.0% |
| 2003 | 48.50 million people | +1.0% |
| 2004 | 48.99 million people | +1.0% |
| 2005 | 49.49 million people | +1.0% |
| 2006 | 50.00 million people | +1.0% |
| 2007 | 50.53 million people | +1.1% |
| 2008 | 51.11 million people | +1.2% |
| 2009 | 51.73 million people | +1.2% |
| 2010 | 52.34 million people | +1.2% |
| 2011 | 53.00 million people | +1.2% |
| 2012 | 53.78 million people | +1.5% |
| 2013 | 54.68 million people | +1.7% |
| 2014 | 55.59 million people | +1.7% |
| 2015 | 56.72 million people | +2.0% |
| 2016 | 57.26 million people | +0.9% |
| 2017 | 57.64 million people | +0.7% |
| 2018 | 58.61 million people | +1.7% |
| 2019 | 59.59 million people | +1.7% |
| 2020 | 60.56 million people | +1.6% |
| 2021 | 61.50 million people | +1.6% |
| 2022 | 62.38 million people | +1.4% |
| 2023 | 63.21 million people | +1.3% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 63.21 million people is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 6.81 million people, 9.3× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 63.21 million people is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 14.26 million people, 4.4× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Population 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1800 | +102.9% | 713,776 people | 1.45 million people |
| 1700 | +42.9% | 602,000 people | 860,000 people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 258,000 people | 258,000 people | 258,000 people | 1 |
| 1100s | 309,600 people | 309,600 people | 309,600 people | 1 |
| 1200s | 361,200 people | 361,200 people | 361,200 people | 1 |
| 1300s | 412,800 people | 412,800 people | 412,800 people | 1 |
| 1400s | 464,400 people | 464,400 people | 464,400 people | 1 |
| 1500s | 516,000 people | 516,000 people | 516,000 people | 1 |
| 1600s | 602,000 people | 602,000 people | 602,000 people | 1 |
| 1700s | 860,000 people | 860,000 people | 860,000 people | 1 |
| 1710s | 843,752 people | 843,752 people | 843,752 people | 1 |
| 1720s | 827,505 people | 827,505 people | 827,505 people | 1 |
| 1730s | 811,258 people | 811,258 people | 811,258 people | 1 |
| 1740s | 795,011 people | 795,011 people | 795,011 people | 1 |
| 1750s | 778,764 people | 778,764 people | 778,764 people | 1 |
| 1760s | 762,517 people | 762,517 people | 762,517 people | 1 |
| 1770s | 746,270 people | 746,270 people | 746,270 people | 1 |
| 1780s | 730,023 people | 730,023 people | 730,023 people | 1 |
| 1790s | 713,776 people | 713,776 people | 713,776 people | 1 |
| 1800s | 1.47 million people | 1.45 million people | 1.50 million people | 10 |
| 1810s | 1.54 million people | 1.50 million people | 1.57 million people | 10 |
| 1820s | 1.72 million people | 1.58 million people | 1.89 million people | 10 |
| 1830s | 2.14 million people | 1.93 million people | 2.36 million people | 10 |
| 1840s | 2.67 million people | 2.41 million people | 2.94 million people | 10 |
| 1850s | 3.16 million people | 2.99 million people | 3.31 million people | 10 |
| 1860s | 3.52 million people | 3.35 million people | 3.69 million people | 10 |
| 1870s | 3.91 million people | 3.73 million people | 4.11 million people | 10 |
| 1880s | 4.36 million people | 4.15 million people | 4.57 million people | 10 |
| 1890s | 4.85 million people | 4.62 million people | 5.10 million people | 10 |
| 1900s | 5.56 million people | 5.16 million people | 5.99 million people | 10 |
| 1910s | 6.56 million people | 6.09 million people | 7.04 million people | 10 |
| 1920s | 7.86 million people | 7.17 million people | 8.62 million people | 10 |
| 1930s | 9.64 million people | 8.79 million people | 10.53 million people | 10 |
| 1940s | 11.72 million people | 10.74 million people | 12.76 million people | 10 |
| 1950s | 14.43 million people | 13.04 million people | 16.02 million people | 10 |
| 1960s | 18.89 million people | 16.44 million people | 21.61 million people | 10 |
| 1970s | 25.38 million people | 22.28 million people | 28.63 million people | 10 |
| 1980s | 34.50 million people | 29.52 million people | 39.63 million people | 10 |
| 1990s | 44.05 million people | 40.75 million people | 46.73 million people | 10 |
| 2000s | 49.31 million people | 47.16 million people | 51.73 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 55.92 million people | 52.34 million people | 59.59 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 61.91 million people | 60.56 million people | 63.21 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 in South Africa?
- Population in South Africa was 63.21 million people in 2023, according to HYDE (2023); Gapminder (2022); UN WPP (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest population recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 63.21 million people in 2023.
- What is the lowest population recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 258,000 people in 1000.
- How does South Africa rank for population?
- South Africa ranks 25th out of 239 countries with data for 2023.
- Is population rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 15.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from HYDE (2023); Gapminder (2022); UN WPP (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 241 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Population by country, available from 10,000 BCE to 2023, based on data and estimates from different sources.