Data / Population / South Africa

Population in South Africa

Population in South Africa was 64.75 million in 2025, according to the World Bank. That is up 1.2% from 2024. That is the 24th highest of 215 countries in 2025.

2025, persons64,747,319
Change on 2024+1.2%
Rank24th of 215Countries ranked
Series high64,747,3192025
Series low16,440,1721960

Population in South Africa, 1960 to 2025

CSVChart (SVG)

10M20M30M40M50M60M70M196019701980199020002010202020251960: 16,440,172 persons1961: 16,908,035 persons1962: 17,418,522 persons1963: 17,954,564 persons1964: 18,511,361 persons1965: 19,089,380 persons1966: 19,690,087 persons1967: 20,314,066 persons1968: 20,957,287 persons1969: 21,614,676 persons1970: 22,279,984 persons1971: 22,942,143 persons1972: 23,609,456 persons1973: 24,294,263 persons1974: 24,989,108 persons1975: 25,690,940 persons1976: 26,395,450 persons1977: 27,118,952 persons1978: 27,869,507 persons1979: 28,634,162 persons1980: 29,518,857 persons1981: 30,541,044 persons1982: 31,615,339 persons1983: 32,739,304 persons1984: 33,892,788 persons1985: 35,042,093 persons1986: 36,180,515 persons1987: 37,326,190 persons1988: 38,480,649 persons1989: 39,628,575 persons1990: 40,746,268 persons1991: 41,687,898 persons1992: 42,443,509 persons1993: 43,297,156 persons1994: 44,004,139 persons1995: 44,541,554 persons1996: 45,123,018 persons1997: 45,666,838 persons1998: 46,223,880 persons1999: 46,730,335 persons2000: 47,159,719 persons2001: 47,566,800 persons2002: 48,019,415 persons2003: 48,500,348 persons2004: 48,991,421 persons2005: 49,490,033 persons2006: 49,998,277 persons2007: 50,528,584 persons2008: 51,114,599 persons2009: 51,728,516 persons2010: 52,344,051 persons2011: 52,995,205 persons2012: 53,782,567 persons2013: 54,678,791 persons2014: 55,594,838 persons2015: 56,723,537 persons2016: 57,259,551 persons2017: 57,635,162 persons2018: 58,613,001 persons2019: 59,587,885 persons2020: 60,562,381 persons2021: 61,502,603 persons2022: 62,378,410 persons2023: 63,212,384 persons2024: 64,007,187 persons2025: 64,747,319 persons
persons. Source: World Bank. Retrieved 2026-10-09, published 2026-10-08.
All 66 values
Periodpersons
202564,747,319
202464,007,187
202363,212,384
202262,378,410
202161,502,603
202060,562,381
201959,587,885
201858,613,001
201757,635,162
201657,259,551
201556,723,537
201455,594,838
201354,678,791
201253,782,567
201152,995,205
201052,344,051
200951,728,516
200851,114,599
200750,528,584
200649,998,277
200549,490,033
200448,991,421
200348,500,348
200248,019,415
200147,566,800
200047,159,719
199946,730,335
199846,223,880
199745,666,838
199645,123,018
199544,541,554
199444,004,139
199343,297,156
199242,443,509
199141,687,898
199040,746,268
198939,628,575
198838,480,649
198737,326,190
198636,180,515
198535,042,093
198433,892,788
198332,739,304
198231,615,339
198130,541,044
198029,518,857
197928,634,162
197827,869,507
197727,118,952
197626,395,450
197525,690,940
197424,989,108
197324,294,263
197223,609,456
197122,942,143
197022,279,984
196921,614,676
196820,957,287
196720,314,066
196619,690,087
196519,089,380
196418,511,361
196317,954,564
196217,418,522
196116,908,035
196016,440,172

Rankings

Definition

Resident population. Spain and the EU: 1 January, with Spanish figures from the official municipal register (Padrón). United States: Census Bureau population estimates for 1 July. Other countries and the World: World Bank mid-year estimates, which count all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship.

For Denmark, Statistics Denmark counts the registered resident population on 1 January. Greenland and the Faroe Islands are excluded. The annual series selects the first-quarter reference date from FOLK1A. The World Bank series exists for every country, so use it (through compare) to rank countries on one basis.

How to cite

World Bank, World Development Indicators. Population, total (SP.POP.TOTL). https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.POP.TOTL. Retrieved 2026-10-09.

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Questions

What is the population in South Africa?

Population in South Africa was 64.75 million in 2025, according to the World Bank. That is up 1.2% from 2024. That is the 24th highest of 215 countries in 2025.

Where does this figure come from?

World Bank. Population, total (SP.POP.TOTL). Retrieved by Invokely on 2026-10-09.

What was the highest population in South Africa?

64.75 million in 2025, the highest value since 1960 in this series.

More statistics for South Africa

All statistics for South Africa