Voter turnout of voting age population in South Africa
South Africa: Voter turnout of voting age population was 39.64 in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
39.64
World rank
135th
of 161 countries
All-time high
85.53
in 1994
All-time low
39.64
in 2024
Years of data
7
1994–2024
Voter turnout of voting age population in South Africa, 1994–2024
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2024, voter turnout of voting age population in South Africa stood at 39.64. That is the lowest value across all 7 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 26.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, voter turnout of voting age population in South Africa peaked at 85.53 in 1994 and was at its lowest, 39.64, in 2024.
That places South Africa 135th out of 161 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
Voter turnout of voting age population in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 85.53 | — |
| 1999 | 63.86 | -25.3% |
| 2004 | 56.77 | -11.1% |
| 2009 | 56.57 | -0.4% |
| 2014 | 53.77 | -4.9% |
| 2019 | 47.28 | -12.1% |
| 2024 | 39.64 | -16.2% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 39.64 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 63.62, 62% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 39.64 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 49.77, 80% of the median. (41 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 74.69 | 63.86 | 85.53 | 2 |
| 2000s | 56.67 | 56.57 | 56.77 | 2 |
| 2010s | 50.53 | 47.28 | 53.77 | 2 |
| 2020s | 39.64 | 39.64 | 39.64 | 1 |
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 voter turnout of voting age population in South Africa?
- Voter turnout of voting age population in South Africa was 39.64 in 2024, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest voter turnout of voting age population recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 85.53 in 1994.
- What is the lowest voter turnout of voting age population recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 39.64 in 2024.
- How does South Africa rank for voter turnout of voting age population?
- South Africa ranks 135th out of 161 countries with data for 2024.
- Is voter turnout of voting age population rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 26.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Voter turnout of voting age population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 7 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).