Quick facts
South Africa population overview
South Africa is the 6th most populous of 58 countries and territories in Africa. The United Nations put the population at 65,108,962 on 1 January 2026; with an annual growth rate of +1.1% the live estimate on this page rises by roughly 1,872 people per day.
Over a full year that means about 1,158,940 births (17.8 per 1,000 people) and 605,513 deaths (9.3 per 1,000), plus net immigration of roughly 130,218 people. The infant mortality rate is 21.9 per 1,000 live births.
World Bank data show the population grew from 16,440,172 in 1960 to 64,747,319 in 2025 — a change of +293.8%, or +2.1% per year on average. The population is at its all-time high today.
Demographically, the median age is 28.9 years; life expectancy at birth is 66.7 years; women have on average 2.2 children (2024, above the 2.1 replacement level); 25.7% of residents are under 15 and 6.9% are 65 or older (2025); 63.8% of people live in urban areas (2025).
The capital is Pretoria. South Africa covers 1,219,090 km², giving a population density of about 53.9 people per km². GDP was $427.18B in 2025 — about $6,598 per person (World Bank classification: upper middle income).
South Africa population statistics (2026)
| Population (live, October 2026) #24 of 238 → | 65,656,172 |
|---|---|
| UN estimate, 1 Jan 2026 | 65,108,962 |
| World rank | #24 of 238 |
| Rank in Africa | #6 of 58 |
| Share of world population | 0.8% |
| Annual growth rate #97 of 238 → | +1.1% |
| Births per year est. | 1,158,940 |
| Deaths per year est. | 605,513 |
| Net migration per year est. · #54 of 238 → | +130,218 |
| Birth rate #83 of 216 → | 17.8 per 1,000 |
| Death rate #56 of 216 → | 9.3 per 1,000 |
| Infant mortality #56 of 238 → | 21.9 per 1,000 births |
| Sex ratio #186 of 238 → | 94.7 males per 100 females |
| Median age #146 of 238 → | 28.9 years |
| Life expectancy #182 of 216 → | 66.7 years |
| Fertility rate 2024 · #94 of 216 → | 2.2 births per woman |
| Urban population 2025 · #111 of 216 → | 63.8% |
| Surface area 2023 · #24 of 215 → | 1,219,090 km² |
| Population density #146 of 215 → | 53.9 per km² |
| Capital | Pretoria |
| GDP (current US$) 2025 · #40 of 212 → | $427.18B |
| GDP per capita 2025 · #125 of 212 → | $6,598 |
| Income group World Bank | Upper middle income |
South Africa population by year
| Year | Population | Change | Annual growth |
|---|---|---|---|
| October 2026 (live, UN-based) | 65,656,172 | – | – |
| 2025 | 64,747,319 | +740,132 | +1.2% |
| 2024 | 64,007,187 | +794,803 | +1.3% |
| 2023 | 63,212,384 | +833,974 | +1.3% |
| 2022 | 62,378,410 | +875,807 | +1.4% |
| 2021 | 61,502,603 | +940,222 | +1.6% |
| 2020 | 60,562,381 | +3,838,844 | +1.3% |
| 2015 | 56,723,537 | +4,379,486 | +1.6% |
| 2010 | 52,344,051 | +2,854,018 | +1.1% |
| 2005 | 49,490,033 | +2,330,314 | +1% |
| 2000 | 47,159,719 | +2,618,165 | +1.1% |
| 1995 | 44,541,554 | +3,795,286 | +1.8% |
| 1990 | 40,746,268 | +5,704,175 | +3.1% |
| 1985 | 35,042,093 | +5,523,236 | +3.5% |
| 1980 | 29,518,857 | +3,827,917 | +2.8% |
| 1975 | 25,690,940 | +3,410,956 | +2.9% |
| 1970 | 22,279,984 | +3,190,604 | +3.1% |
| 1965 | 19,089,380 | +2,649,208 | +3% |
| 1960 | 16,440,172 | – | – |
Change and annual growth are measured against the previous row; growth is annualized where rows are five years apart. The live row extrapolates the UN estimate and is not directly comparable with the World Bank series.
Largest cities in South Africa
| # | City | Population | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Johannesburg | 9,418,183 | 14.3% |
| 2 | Cape Town | 4,772,846 | 7.3% |
| 3 | Durban | 3,338,026 | 5.1% |
| 4 | Pretoria Capital | 2,112,693 | 3.2% |
| 5 | Soweto | 1,695,047 | 2.6% |
| 6 | Gqeberha | 1,050,078 | 1.6% |
| 7 | Soshanguve | 872,309 | 1.3% |
| 8 | Pietermaritzburg | 839,327 | 1.3% |
Johannesburg is the largest city with 9,418,183 people; the capital, Pretoria, has 2,112,693. City figures are the latest official estimates for the city proper, so shares are approximate. Full list of South Africa cities →
About South Africa
Population over time
- From 16,440,172 in 1960 to 65,656,172 today — up 299.4%.
- The population is at its all-time high right now.
- Average change over the last 10 years of data: +1.3% per year.
- World rank: Population #24 of 238 · Population growth rate #97 of 238.
Life expectancy & fertility
- Life expectancy at birth: 66.3 years (2024), up 13.7 years since 1960.
- Fertility: 2.2 births per woman (2024) — above the ~2.1 replacement level.
- World rank: Life expectancy #182 of 216 · Fertility rate #94 of 216.
Birth & death rates
- Latest: 18.5 births vs 9.2 deaths per 1,000 people (2024).
- Natural increase of 9.2 per 1,000 a year, before migration.
- World rank: Birth rate #83 of 216 · Death rate #56 of 216.
Age structure
- 25.7% of the population is under 15 and 6.9% is 65 or older (2025).
- The 65+ share has grown from 3.4% in 1960 — the population is aging.
- World rank: Population under 15 #91 of 216 · Population aged 65+ #125 of 216 · Median age #146 of 238.
CO₂ emissions
- Latest total: 440.2 Mt CO₂ (2024).
- Emissions peaked at 487.9 Mt in 2008 — down 9.8% since.
- Per person: 6.88 t in 2024, vs 8.33 t in 1970.
- World rank: CO₂ emissions #15 of 203 · CO₂ emissions per capita #36 of 203.
Energy use & renewables
- Energy use: 1,938.5 kg of oil equivalent per person (2023), down 13.4% since 1990.
- Renewables supplied 9.7% of final energy in 2021 (-6.9 points since 1990).
- World rank: Energy use per capita #58 of 150 · Renewable energy share #147 of 212.
Forest area (% of land)
- Forest covers 14% of land area (2023).
- Net deforestation: cover fell from 15% to 14% since 1990 — roughly 12,071 km² of forest lost.
- World rank: Forest area #147 of 213.
Urban population (% of total)
- 63.8% of people live in urban areas (2025), vs 46.7% in 1960 (+17.1 points).
- Became majority-urban around 1987.
- World rank: Urban population #111 of 216.
Water resources & stress
- Water stress: medium–high — freshwater withdrawals are 47.1% of renewable internal resources (2022, SDG 6.4.2-style bands).
- Renewable freshwater per person: 718 m³ in 2022, down 72.9% since 1961.
- World rank: Freshwater resources per capita #145 of 183 · Water stress #32 of 177.
Economy
- GDP: $427.18B in 2025.
- Nominal GDP is up 23.2% since 2015.
- That works out to $6,598 per person.
- World rank: GDP #40 of 212 · GDP per capita #125 of 212.
Unemployment & inflation
- Unemployment: 32.4% of the labor force (2025, ILO estimate).
- Consumer-price inflation: 3.2% in 2025.
- World rank: Unemployment rate #2 of 186 · Inflation rate #94 of 191.
Internet & mobile
- 78.4% of people used the internet in 2024.
- Mobile subscriptions: 179.3 per 100 people (2024) — more subscriptions than people.
- World rank: Internet users #113 of 209 · Mobile subscriptions #11 of 210.
South Africa in the news
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of South Africa in 2026?
As of October 2026, South Africa has an estimated population of 65,656,172. The United Nations estimated 65,108,962 residents on 1 January 2026; the live figure on this page extrapolates that estimate using the +1.1% annual growth rate.
Is the population of South Africa growing or shrinking?
It is growing at +1.1% per year — roughly 1,872 more people every day. Each year there are about 1,158,940 births and 605,513 deaths, with net migration of +130,218.
What is the population density of South Africa?
About 53.9 people per square kilometre: 65,656,172 people living on 1,219,090 km² of surface area (World Bank, 2023).
What is the median age in South Africa?
The median age is 28.9 years, and life expectancy at birth is 66.7 years. 25.7% of the population is under 15 and 6.9% is 65 or older (2025).
How does South Africa rank by population?
South Africa is the 24th most populous of 238 countries and territories worldwide and the 6th in Africa, with 0.8% of the global population.
How has the population of South Africa changed over time?
In 1960 the population was 16,440,172; by 2025 it had grown to 64,747,319 (+293.8%). The year-by-year table above lists the full World Bank series.
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Glostats. (2026). South Africa Population 2026 — Live Counter. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://glostats.com/country/south-africa/<a href="https://glostats.com/country/south-africa/">South Africa Population 2026 — Live Counter</a> — GlostatsFigures on this page may be quoted, charted or republished as long as the page is credited with a link. Terms · Download the data as CSV · Embed a live counter.
Sources & method: the live population is a linear extrapolation of the UN World Population Prospects estimate for 1 January 2026 using the annual growth rate (+1.1%); births, deaths and migration counters apply the UN crude rates to the live figure. Historical series, area, GDP and other indicators are from World Bank Open Data; the encyclopedic summary is from Wikipedia. Figures are statistical estimates, not census counts. Page generated 2026-10-20. More about our data.