Population in South Africa
South Africa: Population was 63.21 million people in 2023. ▲ Rising
Population 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 in South Africa is 63.21 million people, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 74 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is 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, 13.04 million people, 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.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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
- 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)
- Population growth rate, by level of development 0.2% (2100)
- Total fertility rate vs. contraceptive prevalence 2.21 births per woman (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception 2.21 births per woman (2024)
- Refugees by country of asylum 71,171 people (2024)
- Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate 2.21 births per woman (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. Share of people who are religious 2.22 live births per woman (2023)
- Fertility rate accounting for survival until childbearing age 2.07 children per women (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population in South Africa?
- Population in South Africa was 63.21 million people in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed 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 13.04 million people in 1950.
- How does South Africa rank for population?
- South Africa ranks 24th out of 236 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 rising.
- 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. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 74 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
The total population, measured on 1 July of the year shown.