Total population (thousands), annual growth rate in South Africa
South Africa: Total population (thousands), annual growth rate was 1.19 % change on previous year in 2025. ▼ Falling
Total population (thousands), annual growth rate in South Africa, 1971–2025
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in % change on previous year.
Analysis
In 2025, total population (thousands), annual growth rate in South Africa stood at 1.19 % change on previous year.
The figure is down 9.9% on the previous year and down 30.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total population (thousands), annual growth rate in South Africa peaked at 3.57 % change on previous year in 1984 and was at its lowest, -0.4146 % change on previous year, in 2017.
That places South Africa 94th out of 233 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 55 years of available data.
Total population (thousands), annual growth rate in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % change on previous year | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 3.04 % change on previous year | — |
| 1972 | 2.91 % change on previous year | -4.2% |
| 1973 | 2.91 % change on previous year | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 2.89 % change on previous year | -0.6% |
| 1975 | 2.83 % change on previous year | -2.2% |
| 1976 | 2.79 % change on previous year | -1.4% |
| 1977 | 2.7 % change on previous year | -3.3% |
| 1978 | 2.78 % change on previous year | +3.3% |
| 1979 | 2.75 % change on previous year | -1.2% |
| 1980 | 2.74 % change on previous year | -0.6% |
| 1981 | 3.43 % change on previous year | +25.5% |
| 1982 | 3.49 % change on previous year | +1.7% |
| 1983 | 3.54 % change on previous year | +1.5% |
| 1984 | 3.57 % change on previous year | +0.7% |
| 1985 | 3.48 % change on previous year | -2.4% |
| 1986 | 3.3 % change on previous year | -5.1% |
| 1987 | 3.2 % change on previous year | -3.3% |
| 1988 | 3.14 % change on previous year | -1.8% |
| 1989 | 3.05 % change on previous year | -2.9% |
| 1990 | 2.92 % change on previous year | -4.2% |
| 1991 | 2.72 % change on previous year | -6.7% |
| 1992 | 1.91 % change on previous year | -29.9% |
| 1993 | 1.72 % change on previous year | -10.0% |
| 1994 | 2.3 % change on previous year | +33.8% |
| 1995 | 0.9813 % change on previous year | -57.3% |
| 1996 | 1.46 % change on previous year | +48.7% |
| 1997 | 1.15 % change on previous year | -20.9% |
| 1998 | 1.26 % change on previous year | +8.8% |
| 1999 | 1.18 % change on previous year | -5.7% |
| 2000 | 1.01 % change on previous year | -14.9% |
| 2001 | 0.8308 % change on previous year | -17.6% |
| 2002 | 0.8954 % change on previous year | +7.8% |
| 2003 | 1.01 % change on previous year | +12.5% |
| 2004 | 0.9961 % change on previous year | -1.1% |
| 2005 | 1.03 % change on previous year | +3.3% |
| 2006 | 1.01 % change on previous year | -2.2% |
| 2007 | 1.05 % change on previous year | +4.0% |
| 2008 | 1.07 % change on previous year | +2.6% |
| 2009 | 1.24 % change on previous year | +15.9% |
| 2010 | 1.16 % change on previous year | -6.9% |
| 2011 | 1.22 % change on previous year | +5.5% |
| 2012 | 1.27 % change on previous year | +3.7% |
| 2013 | 1.7 % change on previous year | +34.4% |
| 2014 | 1.63 % change on previous year | -4.2% |
| 2015 | 1.72 % change on previous year | +5.4% |
| 2016 | 2.34 % change on previous year | +35.9% |
| 2017 | -0.4146 % change on previous year | -117.7% |
| 2018 | 1.73 % change on previous year | -517.5% |
| 2019 | 1.66 % change on previous year | -3.9% |
| 2020 | 1.66 % change on previous year | +0.1% |
| 2021 | 1.61 % change on previous year | -3.4% |
| 2022 | 1.5 % change on previous year | -6.8% |
| 2023 | 1.35 % change on previous year | -9.8% |
| 2024 | 1.32 % change on previous year | -2.0% |
| 2025 | 1.19 % change on previous year | -9.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 2.84 % change on previous year | 2.7 % change on previous year | 3.04 % change on previous year | 9 |
| 1980s | 3.29 % change on previous year | 2.74 % change on previous year | 3.57 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.76 % change on previous year | 0.9813 % change on previous year | 2.92 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.01 % change on previous year | 0.8308 % change on previous year | 1.24 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.4 % change on previous year | -0.4146 % change on previous year | 2.34 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.44 % change on previous year | 1.19 % change on previous year | 1.66 % change on previous year | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 91 Malaysia 1.21 % change on previous year compare
- 92 Cambodia 1.21 % change on previous year compare
- 93 Malta 1.2 % change on previous year compare
- 95 Faroe Islands 1.17 % change on previous year compare
- 96 Haiti 1.15 % change on previous year compare
- 97 Luxembourg 1.15 % change on previous year compare
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)
- 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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is total population (thousands), annual growth rate in South Africa?
- Total population (thousands), annual growth rate in South Africa was 1.19 % change on previous year in 2025, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest total population (thousands), annual growth rate recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 3.57 % change on previous year in 1984.
- What is the lowest total population (thousands), annual growth rate recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was -0.4146 % change on previous year in 2017.
- How does South Africa rank for total population (thousands), annual growth rate?
- South Africa ranks 94th out of 233 countries with data for 2025.
- Is total population (thousands), annual growth rate rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 30.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Total population (thousands), annual growth rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 55 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
The year-on-year percentage change in Total population (thousands). Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.
Computed from
- Total population UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
The year-on-year percentage change in Total population (thousands). Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.