Population peak status in South Africa
South Africa: Population peak status was 63.21 million in 2023. ▲ Rising
Latest (2023)
63.21 million
Change on year
up 1.3%
World rank
24th
of 236 countries
All-time high
63.21 million
in 2023
All-time low
13.04 million
in 1950
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Population peak status in South Africa, 1950–2023
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 63.21 million for population peak status in 2023. That is the highest value across all 74 years on record.
The figure is up 1.3% on the previous year and up 15.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population peak status in South Africa peaked at 63.21 million in 2023 and was at its lowest, 13.04 million, in 1950.
South Africa ranks 24th of 236 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 74 years of available data.
Population peak status in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 13.04 million | — |
| 1951 | 13.31 million | +2.1% |
| 1952 | 13.60 million | +2.2% |
| 1953 | 13.89 million | +2.2% |
| 1954 | 14.20 million | +2.2% |
| 1955 | 14.53 million | +2.3% |
| 1956 | 14.88 million | +2.4% |
| 1957 | 15.24 million | +2.4% |
| 1958 | 15.62 million | +2.5% |
| 1959 | 16.02 million | +2.5% |
| 1960 | 16.44 million | +2.7% |
| 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% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 63.21 million is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 6.81 million, 9.3× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 63.21 million is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 14.26 million, 4.4× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 14.43 million | 13.04 million | 16.02 million | 10 |
| 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 | 61.91 million | 60.56 million | 63.21 million | 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 peak status in South Africa?
- Population peak status in South Africa was 63.21 million in 2023, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest population peak status recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 63.21 million in 2023.
- What is the lowest population peak status recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 13.04 million in 1950.
- How does South Africa rank for population peak status?
- South Africa ranks 24th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is population peak status 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 rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Population peak status. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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