South Africa's population rose from 45.1M in 1996 to 64.7M in 2025.
South Africa · Population & demographics
Size, growth, ages, births, deaths, urbanisation and migration.
23 indicators · 23 with data
South Africa's population growth fell from 1.3 % in 1996 to 1.1 % in 2025.
South Africa's population density rose from 36.3 in 1994 to 52.1 in 2023.
South Africa's population, female (% of total) fell from 51.8 % in 1996 to 51.3 % in 2025.
South Africa's urbanisation rose from 53.6 % in 1996 to 63.8 % in 2025.
South Africa's urban population rose from 24.2M in 1996 to 41.3M in 2025.
South Africa's rural population rose from 20.9M in 1996 to 23.4M in 2025.
Latest values — expand for the charts.
- Fertilitydown −0.5 %94th of 217
- Birth rate, crudedown −1.6 %83rd of 217
- Death rate, crudedown −0.0 %57th of 217
- Adolescent fertility rateup +0.6 %150th of 217
Latest values — expand for the charts.
- Median ageup +0.3 yrs126th of 216
- Children (0–14)down −0.2 pts91st of 217
- Working age (15–64)down −0.0 pts56th of 217
- Seniors (65+)up +0.2 pts126th of 217
- Age dependency ratioup +0.1 pts162nd of 217
- Old-age dependency ratioup +0.3 pts129th of 217
Latest values — expand for the charts.
- Net migrationdown −12.3 %9th of 217
- Migrant stockdown −0.3 pts123rd of 216
Latest values — expand for the charts.
- Refugees hostedup +6.0 %57th of 178
Latest values — expand for the charts.
- Life expectancyup +0.2 yrs183rd of 217
- Life expectancy at birth, femaleup +0.2 yrs177th of 217
- Life expectancy at birth, maleup +0.2 yrs189th of 217