Sex ratio by age in South Africa
South Africa: Sex ratio by age was 43.81 in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
43.81
Change on year
down 2.4%
World rank
35th
of 211 countries
All-time high
790.91
in 1950
All-time low
43.81
in 2023
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Sex ratio by age in South Africa, 1950–2023
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2023, sex ratio by age in South Africa stood at 43.81. That is the lowest value across all 74 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.4% on the previous year and down 18.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, sex ratio by age in South Africa peaked at 790.91 in 1950 and was at its lowest, 43.81, in 2023.
South Africa ranks 35th of 211 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Sex ratio by age in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 790.91 | — |
| 1951 | 745.46 | -5.7% |
| 1952 | 727.27 | -2.4% |
| 1953 | 700 | -3.8% |
| 1954 | 663.64 | -5.2% |
| 1955 | 583.33 | -12.1% |
| 1956 | 530.77 | -9.0% |
| 1957 | 485.71 | -8.5% |
| 1958 | 446.67 | -8.0% |
| 1959 | 418.75 | -6.3% |
| 1960 | 400 | -4.5% |
| 1961 | 377.78 | -5.6% |
| 1962 | 345 | -8.7% |
| 1963 | 304.35 | -11.8% |
| 1964 | 284 | -6.7% |
| 1965 | 262.96 | -7.4% |
| 1966 | 248.28 | -5.6% |
| 1967 | 238.71 | -3.9% |
| 1968 | 234.38 | -1.8% |
| 1969 | 220.59 | -5.9% |
| 1970 | 205.41 | -6.9% |
| 1971 | 195 | -5.1% |
| 1972 | 190.48 | -2.3% |
| 1973 | 181.82 | -4.5% |
| 1974 | 176.09 | -3.2% |
| 1975 | 169.39 | -3.8% |
| 1976 | 163.46 | -3.5% |
| 1977 | 161.11 | -1.4% |
| 1978 | 160.71 | -0.2% |
| 1979 | 161.02 | +0.2% |
| 1980 | 157.14 | -2.4% |
| 1981 | 150.72 | -4.1% |
| 1982 | 144.59 | -4.1% |
| 1983 | 140.51 | -2.8% |
| 1984 | 136.47 | -2.9% |
| 1985 | 129.35 | -5.2% |
| 1986 | 120.79 | -6.6% |
| 1987 | 114.81 | -4.9% |
| 1988 | 109.56 | -4.6% |
| 1989 | 105.64 | -3.6% |
| 1990 | 102.26 | -3.2% |
| 1991 | 97.2 | -4.9% |
| 1992 | 92.86 | -4.5% |
| 1993 | 88.55 | -4.6% |
| 1994 | 85.96 | -2.9% |
| 1995 | 84.04 | -2.2% |
| 1996 | 83.5 | -0.6% |
| 1997 | 82.19 | -1.6% |
| 1998 | 80.25 | -2.4% |
| 1999 | 78.52 | -2.2% |
| 2000 | 76.97 | -2.0% |
| 2001 | 76.32 | -0.9% |
| 2002 | 75.53 | -1.0% |
| 2003 | 74.46 | -1.4% |
| 2004 | 73.06 | -1.9% |
| 2005 | 72.07 | -1.4% |
| 2006 | 71.45 | -0.9% |
| 2007 | 70.55 | -1.3% |
| 2008 | 69.23 | -1.9% |
| 2009 | 67.19 | -3.0% |
| 2010 | 64.97 | -3.3% |
| 2011 | 62.01 | -4.6% |
| 2012 | 57.53 | -7.2% |
| 2013 | 53.79 | -6.5% |
| 2014 | 52.05 | -3.2% |
| 2015 | 52.43 | +0.7% |
| 2016 | 52.71 | +0.5% |
| 2017 | 51.81 | -1.7% |
| 2018 | 51.25 | -1.1% |
| 2019 | 50.71 | -1.1% |
| 2020 | 49.06 | -3.2% |
| 2021 | 46.73 | -4.7% |
| 2022 | 44.9 | -3.9% |
| 2023 | 43.81 | -2.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 609.25 | 418.75 | 790.91 | 10 |
| 1960s | 291.6 | 220.59 | 400 | 10 |
| 1970s | 176.45 | 160.71 | 205.41 | 10 |
| 1980s | 130.96 | 105.64 | 157.14 | 10 |
| 1990s | 87.53 | 78.52 | 102.26 | 10 |
| 2000s | 72.68 | 67.19 | 76.97 | 10 |
| 2010s | 54.93 | 50.71 | 64.97 | 10 |
| 2020s | 46.13 | 43.81 | 49.06 | 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)
- 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)
- Age population, age 02, male, interpolated 588,323 (2025)
- Age population, age 03, female, interpolated 594,743 (2025)
- Age population, age 03, male, interpolated 603,304 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is sex ratio by age in South Africa?
- Sex ratio by age in South Africa was 43.81 in 2023, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest sex ratio by age recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 790.91 in 1950.
- What is the lowest sex ratio by age recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 43.81 in 2023.
- How does South Africa rank for sex ratio by age?
- South Africa ranks 35th out of 211 countries with data for 2023.
- Is sex ratio by age rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 18.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Sex ratio by age. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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