Population (International Monetary) in South Africa
South Africa: Population (International Monetary) was 64.01 million in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
64.01 million
Change on year
up 1.3%
World rank
24th
of 186 countries
All-time high
64.01 million
in 2024
All-time low
16.44 million
in 1960
Years of data
65
1960–2024
Population in South Africa, 1960–2024
Source: International Monetary Fund.
Analysis
In 2024, population in South Africa stood at 64.01 million. That is the highest value across all 65 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.3% on the previous year and up 15.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population in South Africa peaked at 64.01 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 16.44 million, in 1960.
South Africa ranks 24th of 186 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 65 years of available data.
Population (International Monetary) in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 16.44 million | — |
| 1961 | 16.91 million | +2.8% |
| 1962 | 17.42 million | +3.0% |
| 1963 | 17.95 million | +3.1% |
| 1964 | 18.51 million | +3.1% |
| 1965 | 19.09 million | +3.1% |
| 1966 | 19.69 million | +3.1% |
| 1967 | 20.31 million | +3.2% |
| 1968 | 20.96 million | +3.2% |
| 1969 | 21.61 million | +3.1% |
| 1970 | 22.28 million | +3.1% |
| 1971 | 22.94 million | +3.0% |
| 1972 | 23.61 million | +2.9% |
| 1973 | 24.29 million | +2.9% |
| 1974 | 24.99 million | +2.9% |
| 1975 | 25.69 million | +2.8% |
| 1976 | 26.40 million | +2.7% |
| 1977 | 27.12 million | +2.7% |
| 1978 | 27.87 million | +2.8% |
| 1979 | 28.63 million | +2.7% |
| 1980 | 29.52 million | +3.1% |
| 1981 | 30.54 million | +3.5% |
| 1982 | 31.62 million | +3.5% |
| 1983 | 32.74 million | +3.6% |
| 1984 | 33.89 million | +3.5% |
| 1985 | 35.04 million | +3.4% |
| 1986 | 36.18 million | +3.2% |
| 1987 | 37.33 million | +3.2% |
| 1988 | 38.48 million | +3.1% |
| 1989 | 39.63 million | +3.0% |
| 1990 | 40.75 million | +2.8% |
| 1991 | 41.69 million | +2.3% |
| 1992 | 42.44 million | +1.8% |
| 1993 | 43.30 million | +2.0% |
| 1994 | 44.00 million | +1.6% |
| 1995 | 44.54 million | +1.2% |
| 1996 | 45.12 million | +1.3% |
| 1997 | 45.67 million | +1.2% |
| 1998 | 46.22 million | +1.2% |
| 1999 | 46.73 million | +1.1% |
| 2000 | 47.16 million | +0.9% |
| 2001 | 47.57 million | +0.9% |
| 2002 | 48.02 million | +1.0% |
| 2003 | 48.50 million | +1.0% |
| 2004 | 48.99 million | +1.0% |
| 2005 | 49.49 million | +1.0% |
| 2006 | 50.00 million | +1.0% |
| 2007 | 50.53 million | +1.1% |
| 2008 | 51.11 million | +1.2% |
| 2009 | 51.73 million | +1.2% |
| 2010 | 52.34 million | +1.2% |
| 2011 | 53.00 million | +1.2% |
| 2012 | 53.78 million | +1.5% |
| 2013 | 54.68 million | +1.7% |
| 2014 | 55.59 million | +1.7% |
| 2015 | 56.72 million | +2.0% |
| 2016 | 57.26 million | +0.9% |
| 2017 | 57.64 million | +0.7% |
| 2018 | 58.61 million | +1.7% |
| 2019 | 59.59 million | +1.7% |
| 2020 | 60.56 million | +1.6% |
| 2021 | 61.50 million | +1.6% |
| 2022 | 62.38 million | +1.4% |
| 2023 | 63.21 million | +1.3% |
| 2024 | 64.01 million | +1.3% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 64.01 million is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 6.59 million, 9.7× the median. (57 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 64.01 million is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 14.61 million, 4.4× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 18.89 million | 16.44 million | 21.61 million | 10 |
| 1970s | 25.38 million | 22.28 million | 28.63 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 34.50 million | 29.52 million | 39.63 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 44.05 million | 40.75 million | 46.73 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 49.31 million | 47.16 million | 51.73 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 55.92 million | 52.34 million | 59.59 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 62.33 million | 60.56 million | 64.01 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More gender data for South Africa
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 17,151 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth 0.6591 % change on previous year (2030)
- Population 51,011 (2030)
- Working-age population (UN estimates and projections) 51,011 (2030)
- Population (UN estimates and projections), annual growth rate 1.07 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 570,099 (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 589,533 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 570,599 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 589,626 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 569,634 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population in South Africa?
- Population in South Africa was 64.01 million in 2024, according to International Monetary Fund.
- What is the highest population recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 64.01 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest population recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 16.44 million in 1960.
- How does South Africa rank for population?
- South Africa ranks 24th out of 186 countries with data for 2024.
- Is population rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 15.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from International Monetary Fund, published as part of Population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 65 observations, free to reuse under IMF Terms and Conditions (attribution required).
About this data
Data on Gender-disaggregated on selected population characteristics.