South Africa

Name: South Africa Population Statistics
Creator: Measured World
Published: 2024-07-01
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/igo/

1950

2025

2100

South Africa

1950

2025

2100

What to know

Current population: 64,747,319 (2025).

Growing rapidly at +1.34% per year—one of the faster rates globally.

Projected to reach 94,314,448 by 2100 (+46% from today).

Key statistics for 2025

Total population

64.7M

Density

53 people/km²

Median age

28.7 years

Growth rate

+1.11%

Key terms

Population growth rate: — Annual percentage change in total population size.
Population density: — People per square kilometre of land area.
Median age: — Age at which half the population is younger and half is older.
Sex ratio: — Number of males per 100 females in the population.

The trajectory

How fast is the population growing?

Total population from 1950 to 2100 (projections beyond 2024)

At the current growth rate, the population would double in approximately 52 years.

Population structure

How is the population split by gender?

Male and female population with sex ratio trend

No population by gender data available.

The sex ratio of 94.8 males per 100 females is below the global average (~101).

Density & aging

Density

People per square kilometre

Median age

Age where half the population is younger

Population density is 53 people per km². The median age is projected to rise by 4 years by 2050, from 28.5 to 32.3.

Rate of change

How fast is the population changing?

Annual percentage change in population size

Growth peaked at 3.50% in 1983.

The bottom line

South Africa's population continues to grow, though at a moderate pace. The sex ratio of 95 males per 100 females is notably lower than the global average of ~101. The population is gradually aging, with median age projected to reach 32 by 2050. UN projections show continued growth to 94.3M by 2100.

Source: UN World Population Prospects 2024. Historical estimates (1950–2024) and medium-variant projections (2025–2100).

What to know

Current population: 64,747,319 (2025).

Growing rapidly at +1.34% per year—one of the faster rates globally.

Projected to reach 94,314,448 by 2100 (+46% from today).

Key statistics for 2025

Total population

64.7M

Density

53 people/km²

Median age

28.7 years

Growth rate

+1.11%

Key terms

Population growth rate: — Annual percentage change in total population size.
Population density: — People per square kilometre of land area.
Median age: — Age at which half the population is younger and half is older.
Sex ratio: — Number of males per 100 females in the population.

The trajectory

How fast is the population growing?

Total population from 1950 to 2100 (projections beyond 2024)

At the current growth rate, the population would double in approximately 52 years.

Population structure

How is the population split by gender?

Male and female population with sex ratio trend

No population by gender data available.

The sex ratio of 94.8 males per 100 females is below the global average (~101).

Density & aging

Density

People per square kilometre

Median age

Age where half the population is younger

Population density is 53 people per km². The median age is projected to rise by 4 years by 2050, from 28.5 to 32.3.

Rate of change

How fast is the population changing?

Annual percentage change in population size

Growth peaked at 3.50% in 1983.

The bottom line

Source: UN World Population Prospects 2024. Historical estimates (1950–2024) and medium-variant projections (2025–2100).

South Africa - Population Statistics | Measured World