South Africa Population
64.7M▲ +0.7M
Dec 2025 · Annual
South Africa's total population rose to 64.75 million in 2025, up from 64.01 million in 2024. The figure marks a new all-time high for the series, which dates back to 1960. The all-time low of 16.44 million was recorded in 1960.
| Actual | Previous | Highest | Lowest | Dates | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 64.7M | 64.0M | 64.7MDec 2025 | 16.4MDec 1960 | 1960 – 2025 | Annual |
Related indicators
| Indicator | Last | Previous | Highest | Lowest | Last updated | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age Dependency Ratio | 48.4% | 48.3% | 84.7% | 48.3% | Dec 2025 | Annual |
| Working-Age Population | 43.6M | 43.2M | 43.6M | 9.0M | Dec 2025 | Annual |
About this series
Population in South Africa averaged 51.9M from 1960 until 2025, reaching an all-time high of 64.7M in Dec 2025 and a record low of 16.4M in Dec 1960. The series is reported yearly with history from 1960.
Total population counts all residents of South Africa, regardless of legal status or citizenship. The data is reported annually in millions. The series spans from 1960 to the present.
Source & methodology
We use primary economic sources for every country. See our methodology page for how we source and verify this data.
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