Population · Africa · 2025 data
South Africa Population
South Africa had a population of 64.75 million in 2025, ranking #24 of 216 countries and territories (0.79% of the world). The population grew by 14.1% over the past ten years.
Population of South Africa, 1960–2025
Values in millions · World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0)
Population by year (table)
| Year | Population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 64,747,319 | +1.16% |
| 2024 | 64,007,187 | +1.26% |
| 2023 | 63,212,384 | +1.34% |
| 2022 | 62,378,410 | +1.42% |
| 2021 | 61,502,603 | +1.55% |
| 2020 | 60,562,381 | +1.64% |
| 2019 | 59,587,885 | +1.66% |
| 2018 | 58,613,001 | +1.70% |
| 2017 | 57,635,162 | +0.66% |
| 2016 | 57,259,551 | +0.94% |
| 2015 | 56,723,537 | +2.03% |
| 2014 | 55,594,838 | +1.68% |
| 2013 | 54,678,791 | +1.67% |
| 2012 | 53,782,567 | +1.49% |
| 2011 | 52,995,205 | +1.24% |
| 2010 | 52,344,051 | +1.19% |
| 2009 | 51,728,516 | +1.20% |
| 2008 | 51,114,599 | +1.16% |
| 2007 | 50,528,584 | +1.06% |
| 2006 | 49,998,277 | +1.03% |
| 2005 | 49,490,033 | +1.02% |
| 2004 | 48,991,421 | +1.01% |
| 2003 | 48,500,348 | +1.00% |
| 2002 | 48,019,415 | +0.95% |
| 2001 | 47,566,800 | +0.86% |
| 2000 | 47,159,719 | +0.92% |
| 1999 | 46,730,335 | +1.10% |
| 1998 | 46,223,880 | +1.22% |
| 1997 | 45,666,838 | +1.21% |
| 1996 | 45,123,018 | +1.31% |
| 1995 | 44,541,554 | +1.22% |
| 1994 | 44,004,139 | +1.63% |
| 1993 | 43,297,156 | +2.01% |
| 1992 | 42,443,509 | +1.81% |
| 1991 | 41,687,898 | +2.31% |
| 1990 | 40,746,268 | +2.82% |
| 1989 | 39,628,575 | +2.98% |
| 1988 | 38,480,649 | +3.09% |
| 1987 | 37,326,190 | +3.17% |
| 1986 | 36,180,515 | +3.25% |
| 1985 | 35,042,093 | +3.39% |
| 1984 | 33,892,788 | +3.52% |
| 1983 | 32,739,304 | +3.56% |
| 1982 | 31,615,339 | +3.52% |
| 1981 | 30,541,044 | +3.46% |
| 1980 | 29,518,857 | +3.09% |
| 1979 | 28,634,162 | +2.74% |
| 1978 | 27,869,507 | +2.77% |
| 1977 | 27,118,952 | +2.74% |
| 1976 | 26,395,450 | +2.74% |
| 1975 | 25,690,940 | +2.81% |
| 1974 | 24,989,108 | +2.86% |
| 1973 | 24,294,263 | +2.90% |
| 1972 | 23,609,456 | +2.91% |
| 1971 | 22,942,143 | +2.97% |
| 1970 | 22,279,984 | +3.08% |
| 1969 | 21,614,676 | +3.14% |
| 1968 | 20,957,287 | +3.17% |
| 1967 | 20,314,066 | +3.17% |
| 1966 | 19,690,087 | +3.15% |
| 1965 | 19,089,380 | +3.12% |
| 1964 | 18,511,361 | +3.10% |
| 1963 | 17,954,564 | +3.08% |
| 1962 | 17,418,522 | +3.02% |
| 1961 | 16,908,035 | +2.85% |
| 1960 | 16,440,172 | — |
Demographics of South Africa
Ethnic groups
Black African 80.9%, Colored 8.8%, White 7.8%, Indian/Asian 2.6% (2021 est.)
Languages
isiZulu or Zulu (official) 25.3%, isiXhosa or Xhosa (official) 14.8%, Afrikaans (official) 12.2%, Sepedi or Pedi (official) 10.1%, Setswana or Tswana (official) 9.1%, English (official) 8.1%, Sesotho or Sotho (official) 7.9%, Xitsonga or Tsonga (official) 3.6%, siSwati or Swati (official) 2.8%, Tshivenda or Venda (official) 2.5%, isiNdebele or Ndebele (official) 1.6%, other (includes South African sign language (official) and Khoi or Khoisan or Khoe languages) 2% (2018 est.)
Religions
Christian 86%, ancestral, tribal, animist, or other traditional African religions 5.4%, Muslim 1.9%, other 1.5%, nothing in particular 5.2% (2015 est.)
Where people live
Urban population: 68.8% of total population (2023).
Largest cities
South Africa and its neighbours
Frequently asked questions about the population of South Africa
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Population and demographics: World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0). Cities, ethnic groups, languages and religions: CIA World Factbook (public domain).