Population in Southern Africa
Southern Africa: Population was 57,758 in 2030. ▲ Rising
Population in Southern Africa, 1990–2030
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
Southern Africa recorded 57,758 for population in 2030. That is the highest value across all 41 years on record.
That represents a change of up 1.2% on the previous year and up 16.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population in Southern Africa peaked at 57,758 in 2030 and was at its lowest, 28,368, in 1990.
Southern Africa ranks 70th of 91 groups on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 41 years of available data.
Population in Southern Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 28,368 | — |
| 1991 | 29,138 | +2.7% |
| 1992 | 29,688 | +1.9% |
| 1993 | 30,452 | +2.6% |
| 1994 | 30,998 | +1.8% |
| 1995 | 31,277 | +0.9% |
| 1996 | 31,717 | +1.4% |
| 1997 | 32,282 | +1.8% |
| 1998 | 33,055 | +2.4% |
| 1999 | 33,837 | +2.4% |
| 2000 | 34,594 | +2.2% |
| 2001 | 35,352 | +2.2% |
| 2002 | 36,146 | +2.2% |
| 2003 | 36,935 | +2.2% |
| 2004 | 37,675 | +2.0% |
| 2005 | 38,353 | +1.8% |
| 2006 | 38,997 | +1.7% |
| 2007 | 39,640 | +1.7% |
| 2008 | 40,287 | +1.6% |
| 2009 | 40,920 | +1.6% |
| 2010 | 41,574 | +1.6% |
| 2011 | 42,255 | +1.6% |
| 2012 | 43,006 | +1.8% |
| 2013 | 43,836 | +1.9% |
| 2014 | 44,672 | +1.9% |
| 2015 | 45,676 | +2.2% |
| 2016 | 46,140 | +1.0% |
| 2017 | 46,542 | +0.9% |
| 2018 | 47,584 | +2.2% |
| 2019 | 48,648 | +2.2% |
| 2020 | 49,728 | +2.2% |
| 2021 | 50,764 | +2.1% |
| 2022 | 51,700 | +1.8% |
| 2023 | 52,582 | +1.7% |
| 2024 | 53,419 | +1.6% |
| 2025 | 54,194 | +1.4% |
| 2026 | 54,938 | +1.4% |
| 2027 | 55,664 | +1.3% |
| 2028 | 56,382 | +1.3% |
| 2029 | 57,081 | +1.2% |
| 2030 | 57,758 | +1.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 31,081 | 28,368 | 33,837 | 10 |
| 2000s | 37,890 | 34,594 | 40,920 | 10 |
| 2010s | 44,993 | 41,574 | 48,648 | 10 |
| 2020s | 53,645 | 49,728 | 57,081 | 10 |
| 2030s | 57,758 | 57,758 | 57,758 | 1 |
Countries ranked near Southern Africa
More gender data for Southern Africa
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 20,374 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth 0.5706 % change on previous year (2030)
- Working-age population (UN estimates and projections) 57,758 (2030)
- Population (UN estimates and projections), annual growth rate 1.19 % change on previous year (2030)
- Inactivity rate (ILO modelled estimates) 43.89 (2027)
- SDG indicator 1.1.1: Working poverty rate 15.28 (2025)
- SDG indicator 5.5.2: Proportion of women in managerial positions 36.91 (2025)
- Number of seats held by women in national parliaments 274 (2026)
- Proportion of seats held by women in national parliaments 35.8% (2026)
- Proportion of women aged 15-49 years with anaemia 31.0% (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population in Southern Africa?
- Population in Southern Africa was 57,758 in 2030, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest population recorded in Southern Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 57,758 in 2030.
- What is the lowest population recorded in Southern Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 28,368 in 1990.
- How does Southern Africa rank for population?
- Southern Africa ranks 70th out of 91 groups with data for 2030.
- Is population rising or falling in Southern Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 16.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Southern Africa data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of Population (UN estimates and projections). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 41 observations, free to reuse under ILO Terms of Use (attribution required).
About this data
Imputed observations are not based on national data, are subject to high uncertainty and should not be used for country comparisons or rankings. The total population comprises persons of all ages who were living in the country during the reference period, regardless of residency status or citizenship. The source for the population figures used is the United Nations' World Population Prospects. For more information, refer to the ILO Modelled Estimates (ILOEST) database description.