Number of children, working-age adults, and older people in South Africa
South Africa: Number of children, working-age adults, and older people was 4.11 million people in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Number of children, working-age adults, and older people in South Africa, 1950–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
In 2023, number of children, working-age adults, and older people in South Africa stood at 4.11 million people. That is the highest value across all 74 years on record.
The figure is up 3.8% on the previous year and up 42.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of children, working-age adults, and older people in South Africa peaked at 4.11 million people in 2023 and was at its lowest, 526,297 people, in 1953.
South Africa ranks 31st of 236 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 532,068 people | 526,297 people | 547,491 people | 10 |
| 1960s | 648,519 people | 557,736 people | 765,825 people | 10 |
| 1970s | 938,457 people | 797,316 people | 1.08 million people | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.35 million people | 1.12 million people | 1.58 million people | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.86 million people | 1.61 million people | 2.18 million people | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.48 million people | 2.24 million people | 2.71 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.05 million people | 2.75 million people | 3.54 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.90 million people | 3.70 million people | 4.11 million people | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More population data for South Africa
- 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)
- Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate 2.21 births per woman (2024)
- Refugees by country of asylum 71,171 people (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception 2.21 births per woman (2024)
- Total fertility rate vs. contraceptive prevalence 2.21 births per woman (2024)
- Natural population growth rate 1.0% (2023)
- Fertility rate: births per woman 2.22 live births per woman (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of children, working-age adults, and older people in South Africa?
- Number of children, working-age adults, and older people in South Africa was 4.11 million people in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of children, working-age adults, and older people recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 4.11 million people in 2023.
- What is the lowest number of children, working-age adults, and older people recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 526,297 people in 1953.
- How does South Africa rank for number of children, working-age adults, and older people?
- South Africa ranks 31st out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is number of children, working-age adults, and older people rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 42.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- 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 Number of children, working-age adults, and older people. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The total population, measured on 1 July of the year shown. This only includes people aged 65+.