Sex ratio at sixty years old in South Africa
South Africa: Sex ratio at sixty years old was 78.43 in 2023. ▼ Falling
Latest (2023)
78.43
Change on year
down 0.3%
World rank
219th
of 236 countries
All-time high
102.39
in 1960
All-time low
63.95
in 1997
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Sex ratio at sixty years old in South Africa, 1950–2023
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2023, sex ratio at sixty years old in South Africa stood at 78.43.
The figure is down 0.3% on the previous year and up 4.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, sex ratio at sixty years old in South Africa peaked at 102.39 in 1960 and was at its lowest, 63.95, in 1997.
South Africa ranks 219th of 236 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 74 years of available data.
Sex ratio at sixty years old in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 91.66 | — |
| 1951 | 91.99 | +0.4% |
| 1952 | 92.61 | +0.7% |
| 1953 | 93.74 | +1.2% |
| 1954 | 95.18 | +1.5% |
| 1955 | 96.6 | +1.5% |
| 1956 | 97.99 | +1.4% |
| 1957 | 99.32 | +1.4% |
| 1958 | 100.85 | +1.5% |
| 1959 | 102.07 | +1.2% |
| 1960 | 102.39 | +0.3% |
| 1961 | 102.19 | -0.2% |
| 1962 | 101.73 | -0.5% |
| 1963 | 101.11 | -0.6% |
| 1964 | 100.41 | -0.7% |
| 1965 | 99.62 | -0.8% |
| 1966 | 98.83 | -0.8% |
| 1967 | 98.04 | -0.8% |
| 1968 | 97.22 | -0.8% |
| 1969 | 96.42 | -0.8% |
| 1970 | 95.72 | -0.7% |
| 1971 | 95.42 | -0.3% |
| 1972 | 95.45 | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 95.51 | +0.1% |
| 1974 | 95.59 | +0.1% |
| 1975 | 95.72 | +0.1% |
| 1976 | 95.87 | +0.2% |
| 1977 | 95.97 | +0.1% |
| 1978 | 96 | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 96.04 | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 95 | -1.1% |
| 1981 | 93 | -2.1% |
| 1982 | 91.2 | -1.9% |
| 1983 | 89.63 | -1.7% |
| 1984 | 88.46 | -1.3% |
| 1985 | 88.47 | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 89.31 | +0.9% |
| 1987 | 89.95 | +0.7% |
| 1988 | 90.31 | +0.4% |
| 1989 | 90.57 | +0.3% |
| 1990 | 90.69 | +0.1% |
| 1991 | 90.82 | +0.1% |
| 1992 | 88.49 | -2.6% |
| 1993 | 93.9 | +6.1% |
| 1994 | 92.05 | -2.0% |
| 1995 | 78.91 | -14.3% |
| 1996 | 69.09 | -12.4% |
| 1997 | 63.95 | -7.4% |
| 1998 | 65.44 | +2.3% |
| 1999 | 67.28 | +2.8% |
| 2000 | 69.25 | +2.9% |
| 2001 | 71.27 | +2.9% |
| 2002 | 73.04 | +2.5% |
| 2003 | 74.23 | +1.6% |
| 2004 | 74.86 | +0.9% |
| 2005 | 75.22 | +0.5% |
| 2006 | 75.86 | +0.8% |
| 2007 | 76.76 | +1.2% |
| 2008 | 77.09 | +0.4% |
| 2009 | 76.85 | -0.3% |
| 2010 | 76.41 | -0.6% |
| 2011 | 75.85 | -0.7% |
| 2012 | 75.25 | -0.8% |
| 2013 | 74.84 | -0.5% |
| 2014 | 74.51 | -0.5% |
| 2015 | 74.28 | -0.3% |
| 2016 | 73.87 | -0.5% |
| 2017 | 74.24 | +0.5% |
| 2018 | 75.48 | +1.7% |
| 2019 | 76.49 | +1.3% |
| 2020 | 77.29 | +1.1% |
| 2021 | 78.22 | +1.2% |
| 2022 | 78.69 | +0.6% |
| 2023 | 78.43 | -0.3% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 78.43 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 92.16, 85% of the median. (58 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 78.43 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 89.96, 87% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 96.2 | 91.66 | 102.07 | 10 |
| 1960s | 99.8 | 96.42 | 102.39 | 10 |
| 1970s | 95.73 | 95.42 | 96.04 | 10 |
| 1980s | 90.59 | 88.46 | 95 | 10 |
| 1990s | 80.06 | 63.95 | 93.9 | 10 |
| 2000s | 74.44 | 69.25 | 77.09 | 10 |
| 2010s | 75.12 | 73.87 | 76.49 | 10 |
| 2020s | 78.16 | 77.29 | 78.69 | 4 |
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 sex ratio at sixty years old in South Africa?
- Sex ratio at sixty years old in South Africa was 78.43 in 2023, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest sex ratio at sixty years old recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 102.39 in 1960.
- What is the lowest sex ratio at sixty years old recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 63.95 in 1997.
- How does South Africa rank for sex ratio at sixty years old?
- South Africa ranks 219th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is sex ratio at sixty years old rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 4.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Sex ratio at sixty years old. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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