Total population (thousands) in South Africa
South Africa: Total population (thousands) was 64,386 thousands in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
64,386 thousands
Change on year
up 1.2%
World rank
24th
of 233 countries
All-time high
64,386 thousands
in 2025
All-time low
21,947 thousands
in 1970
Years of data
56
1970–2025
Total population in South Africa, 1970–2025
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in thousands.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 64,386 thousands for total population in 2025. That is the highest value across all 56 years on record.
The figure is up 1.2% on the previous year and up 14.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total population in South Africa peaked at 64,386 thousands in 2025 and was at its lowest, 21,947 thousands, in 1970.
South Africa ranks 24th of 233 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 56 years of available data.
Total population (thousands) in South Africa, year by year
| Year | thousands | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 21,947 thousands | — |
| 1971 | 22,613 thousands | +3.0% |
| 1972 | 23,271 thousands | +2.9% |
| 1973 | 23,948 thousands | +2.9% |
| 1974 | 24,641 thousands | +2.9% |
| 1975 | 25,338 thousands | +2.8% |
| 1976 | 26,044 thousands | +2.8% |
| 1977 | 26,747 thousands | +2.7% |
| 1978 | 27,491 thousands | +2.8% |
| 1979 | 28,248 thousands | +2.8% |
| 1980 | 29,021 thousands | +2.7% |
| 1981 | 30,017 thousands | +3.4% |
| 1982 | 31,065 thousands | +3.5% |
| 1983 | 32,166 thousands | +3.5% |
| 1984 | 33,313 thousands | +3.6% |
| 1985 | 34,473 thousands | +3.5% |
| 1986 | 35,612 thousands | +3.3% |
| 1987 | 36,750 thousands | +3.2% |
| 1988 | 37,903 thousands | +3.1% |
| 1989 | 39,058 thousands | +3.0% |
| 1990 | 40,199 thousands | +2.9% |
| 1991 | 41,294 thousands | +2.7% |
| 1992 | 42,082 thousands | +1.9% |
| 1993 | 42,805 thousands | +1.7% |
| 1994 | 43,789 thousands | +2.3% |
| 1995 | 44,219 thousands | +1.0% |
| 1996 | 44,864 thousands | +1.5% |
| 1997 | 45,382 thousands | +1.2% |
| 1998 | 45,952 thousands | +1.3% |
| 1999 | 46,496 thousands | +1.2% |
| 2000 | 46,965 thousands | +1.0% |
| 2001 | 47,355 thousands | +0.8% |
| 2002 | 47,779 thousands | +0.9% |
| 2003 | 48,260 thousands | +1.0% |
| 2004 | 48,741 thousands | +1.0% |
| 2005 | 49,242 thousands | +1.0% |
| 2006 | 49,738 thousands | +1.0% |
| 2007 | 50,259 thousands | +1.0% |
| 2008 | 50,798 thousands | +1.1% |
| 2009 | 51,431 thousands | +1.2% |
| 2010 | 52,026 thousands | +1.2% |
| 2011 | 52,662 thousands | +1.2% |
| 2012 | 53,329 thousands | +1.3% |
| 2013 | 54,236 thousands | +1.7% |
| 2014 | 55,121 thousands | +1.6% |
| 2015 | 56,069 thousands | +1.7% |
| 2016 | 57,378 thousands | +2.3% |
| 2017 | 57,141 thousands | -0.4% |
| 2018 | 58,130 thousands | +1.7% |
| 2019 | 59,096 thousands | +1.7% |
| 2020 | 60,080 thousands | +1.7% |
| 2021 | 61,045 thousands | +1.6% |
| 2022 | 61,960 thousands | +1.5% |
| 2023 | 62,797 thousands | +1.4% |
| 2024 | 63,628 thousands | +1.3% |
| 2025 | 64,386 thousands | +1.2% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 64,386 thousands is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 6,843 thousands, 9.4× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 64,386 thousands is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 14,783 thousands, 4.4× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 25,029 thousands | 21,947 thousands | 28,248 thousands | 10 |
| 1980s | 33,938 thousands | 29,021 thousands | 39,058 thousands | 10 |
| 1990s | 43,708 thousands | 40,199 thousands | 46,496 thousands | 10 |
| 2000s | 49,057 thousands | 46,965 thousands | 51,431 thousands | 10 |
| 2010s | 55,519 thousands | 52,026 thousands | 59,096 thousands | 10 |
| 2020s | 62,316 thousands | 60,080 thousands | 64,386 thousands | 6 |
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)
- 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 in South Africa?
- Total population in South Africa was 64,386 thousands in 2025, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest total population recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 64,386 thousands in 2025.
- What is the lowest total population recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 21,947 thousands in 1970.
- How does South Africa rank for total population?
- South Africa ranks 24th out of 233 countries with data for 2025.
- Is total population rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 14.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Total population (thousands). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 56 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release